Thomas Tuchel said Chelsea have achieved a ‘miracle’ by finishing third in the Premier League this season given how often they have been forced to cope without the services of N’GoloKante.
The influential midfielder has struggled with injuries throughout the course of a frustrating personal campaign, during which he has missed around 40% of his side’s matches.
Kante returned to the starting line-up last night during a 1-1 draw with his former team Leicester City at Stamford Bridge and delivered a typically polished performance at the heart of Chelsea’s midfield engine room.
The France international has been linked with a shock move to Manchester United this summer but Tuchel insists the 31-year-old remains indispensable, even if he has found it hard to find solutions in the absence of his talismanic midfielder.
“I think he is our key, key, key player, but key, key, key players need to be on the pitch,” said Tuchel after Wednesday’s result which confirmed Chelsea would finish in third place behind Liverpool and Manchester City.”
