N’GOLO KANTE has explained why he snubbed PSG and admitted his peak Chelsea form was in his first season – nearly FIVE YEARS AGO.
The French World Cup winner, 29, rejected his home-country champs when current Blues’ boss Thomas Tuchel was in charge.
Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante hopes to bounce back to his best form after finally believing he has shaken off injury problemsCredit: EPA
French midfielder N’Golo Kante says his best football at Chelsea came under his first Bridge boss Antonio Conte, in 2016-17
Instead, Kante has just passed 200 appearances for Chelsea and believes he is finally over his injury problems.
The £32million midfielder arrived at Stamford Bridge fresh from Leicester’s shock 2015-16 title glory, as one of Conte’s first signings since quitting the Italy job to take over Chelsea.
The Blues scooped the top-flight crown in the duo’s first campaign, Kante also winning England’s three main individual awards.
And asked by the Chelsea’s official website to name when he had played his best football for the club, he replied: “With Antonio Conte in the period we won more than 10 games in a row.
“At that time when we were going on the pitch we were very confident, the team were playing very well, we managed to dominate our opponents and to win.
“I felt very good on the pitch. That was a beautiful time.”
In fact, it was a 13-match winning run on the way to winning the title, seven points clear of runners-up Tottenham.
Kante also revealed how he turned down Tuchel when the German was an all-conquering manager in French football.
The former Boulogne and Caen star said: “I knew in the past there was some contact with Paris Saint-Germain when he was the manager, but it was not something I wanted.
“It did not happen because I was happy at Chelsea and I stayed here. I haven’t spoken to the manager about it!”
And of his injuries, Kante added: “When you play constantly, many games in a row, you think it’s normal.
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“When injury comes, you play two weeks, and then you get injured… You don’t feel like you are giving the best to the club or your team-mates.
“When I have been injured it’s a period of reflection of what you can do better. I realise now it’s better to take more time to recover.
“I have learned when you are not ready, take more time because that will help the team more.”
Thomas Tuchel says Chelsea tried everything to win despite ultimate goalless draw with Man Utd
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
