Former Chelsea central defender Robert Huth has joined the chorus in criticising Maurizio Sarri’s use of N’Golo Kante in an advanced midfield role.
Like many observers before him, Huth believes the World Cup-winning midfielder’s talents are not being utilised to their maximum potential as he is being played out of his usual position in front of the defence by Blues boss Sarri.
Kante, who won the 2015-2016 Premier League title at Leicester with Huth, did so by assuming a holding midfield role in which he rose from relative obscurity to one of the best, if not the best, in such position. Moreover, the 27-year-old excelled in the same position for Les Bleus who captured their second World Cup trophy last summer.
Since the start of the season with Sarri taking over at Chelsea, however, Kante has been shunted to an advanced midfield position in order to accommodate Jorginho. While it worked out well initially, the west Londoners’ alarming dip in form recently has led many to question the decision of the ex-Napoli boss to shift the French international out of the holding midfield role, where Kante is at his most effective and thrilling best.
While the World Cup-winning midfielder has since revealed he is “contented” with his new role under the 60-year-old Italian, not a few, including his former teammate Huth, have professed their uncertainty regarding Sarri’s decision regarding the role of Kante at Stamford Bridge.
Huth reckons there is no one better than Kante in the defensive midfield role and so playing him out of position makes no sense. “I tend to agree with most people that he has been playing in another position,” said the former Chelsea centreback.
“We all know what he can do when he plays in his position. In my view, he’s the best player in that position. It makes no sense for him to be playing on the right.”
