N'Golo Kanté has already collected one Player of the Year award this season, but that one was from the Willow Foundation at the annual London Football Awards gala. The real prize should await him at the end of the Premier League season, the one that he really should've been awarded last year, too, instead of Riyad Mahrez. We only have to look at Leicester City's plight to see just how important the little central midfielder was to the Foxes unlikeliest of all top flight titles.
Kanté's individual award(s) will hopefully come right along with the Premier League trophy, which would make him one of the very few players ever to win the title with two different teams in two consecutive seasons. When we see him put in a shift like he did yesterday, or last week against Swansea, or, in fact, most weekends throughout the season, it's hardly a surprise.
Six tackles, eight ball recoveries, plus an interception or two — the stats hardly begin to tell the story. Even Eden Hazard was impressed, becoming just the latest person to make the Kanté twins joke.
Speaking to @hazardeden10 post match. On Kante: "sometimes I think I'm playing with twins" pic.twitter.com/HFjDDxQUwO
— Lee Parker (@Leeparker_tv) March 6, 2017
Meanwhile, head coach Antonio Conte is never truly satisfied and is always looking for ways to improve players, but even he might be struggling to do so in Kanté's case.
"I know he made 50 passes, and he made five mistakes. He has to improve in this! I'm joking, yes! I have to find one situation to tell him to improve."
"N'Golo is playing very well. He's a really good player. He has great stamina and also good quality. We are working to improve the quality."
-Antonio Conte; source: Chelsea FC
Kanté's already basically a cheat code in midfield; just imagine if he improves the quality of his passing and shooting a bit more! Actually, that sounds fun.