N’Golo Kante gave Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri encouragement that his transformation might not be an illusion.
As much through necessity as choice, with Pedro, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Bayern Munich target Callum Hudson-Odoi injured, Sarri moved Hazard back to his preferred position on the left for the trip to face Crystal Palace.
He may have even less choice over the coming games, as Olivier Giroud left Selhurst Park on crutches after being forced off late on with an ankle injury, while Sarri revealed Cesc Fabregas and Danny Drinkwater suffered injuries the day before this game.
But it seems there will be no going back for Kante under Sarri after the Frenchman scored his third goal of the season and was an unlikely source of attacking intent against Palace.
This is now officially the most prolific League campaign of Kante’s career since Sarri moved him forwards to the right side of a midfield three and it appears he has been practicing his finishing.
The way Kante took David Luiz’s pass over the top of the Palace defence on to his chest was pure Frank Lampard and the finish under the hand of goalkeeper Vicente Guaita wasn’t far off either.
There have been games when Sarri’s decision to take Kante out of his comfort zone has been bewildering, but this was not one of them and the whole plan may yet make sense.
“He is improving, especially in his movement without the ball,” said Sarri. “Today the movement was really very good and done with the right timing.
“It’s very important for us when we have to play against opponents very low, where the strikers and wingers find it hard to find space. It’s about the movement of the midfielders. We have to work with Loftus-Cheek and (Ross) Barkley on this. Loftus, especially, is a very great player with the ball, but he can improve a lot in his movement without the ball.”
Asked about Giroud’s injury, Sarri replied: “The problem is his ankle. I don’t know the severity. We have to wait for tomorrow (Monday). I think that, later in the evening, I will see the doctor for the first results, but I think the real result will only be known tomorrow.
“In the last few days we were a bit unlucky. Yesterday in 10 minutes we had three injuries – Fabregas, Loftus-Cheek and Drinkwater – then Giroud today, and we were already without Pedro and Hudson-Odoi.
“We are in trouble because, in January, we have to play every three days. Fabregas is a neck problem. The injury was in the last five minutes of training, so I’m not sure whether he has to rest for two or 10 days. I will have a meeting with the doctor this evening.”
Kante was the only player on the pitch who looked fully awake during the opening stages of this early kick-off. He enlivened what had been a sleepy start with a shot that flew narrowly wide and another effort that deflected into the arms of Guaita.
Even Hazard had been relatively quiet during the opening half-an-hour, but it was from the Belgian’s slaloming run that Chelsea won a free-kick, which Willian hit the outside of the post from.
Moments later, Guaita palmed another Willian shot wide and, from Hazard’s resulting corner, Ross Barkley hooked the ball on to the post.
Luiz had argued his way through the first half, first with team-mates Cesar Azpilicueta and Jorginho and then with Sarri shortly before the break.
But Sarri will not have had any complaints over the superb pass over the Palace defence that Luiz played in the 51st minute for Kante to net what proved to be the match winner.
Palace chairman Steve Parish confirmed ahead of kick-off that the club are hopeful of signing former Chelsea youngster Dominic Solanke on loan from Liverpool for the rest of the season.
And the home side’s need for a striker was once again evident as they failed to trouble Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. Substitute Connor Wickham blazed Palace’s best chance over the bar in the closing stages.
On Palace’s attempt to sign Solanke, manager Roy Hodgson said: “First of all, we’ve got to try and make sure we do get him here on loan. If Steven has mentioned that, then it’s no secret he’s a target.
“What would he do? Provide an attacking threat. He’s a proven goalscorer through all the age groups at Chelsea and England. If he comes here, it’ll be up to him to show he can do that in Premier League football.”
Former England manager Hodgson added: “He’s someone with the profile we’re looking for and the ability we are looking for. We know him better from the England games and the performances with England.
“I thought he was a good signing from Liverpool’s point of view, but he’s been kept out of the team by some very strong players. It would take some player to knock their front three out of the team, so it’s not a negative in relation to him that he’s not been able to do so.”
(The Telegraph)
