When Thomas Tuchel was Paris Saint-Germain manager, he hoped to take N’Golo Kante back to his home city. Now he is in charge of Chelsea, he will belatedly realise an ambition on Thursday when he selects Kante in his starting 11 for the first time at Barnsley.
Being bequeathed Kante is, Tuchel said, a present to him. He paid a glowing tribute to the World Cup winner, describing him as a footballer any coach would pick. He believes his system will suit Kante perfectly as he dismissed concerns the Frenchman’s injuries have reduced his powers.
Tuchel has played a 3-4-2-1 formation in each of his first four games, with Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho ever-presents in a central partnership. But Kante, who has made cameos in the last two after recovering from a hamstring injury, is earmarked for a pivotal role.
“N’Golo fits into every manager on the planet’s plans,” Tuchel said. “I was desperate to have him in my teams. He is a big Chelsea player and one of the best midfielders in the world. I am so lucky to have him in my squad and so lucky he is back again.
“I know him for many years. We were very impressed from television but to see him live, how he works, how humble he is, it is a gift to be his coach. I am super happy. He will start.
“What I see is everything what I expected but I expected a lot because I am a huge fan. He makes teams better and guys around him feel comfortable. He has the mentality of a water carrier but on such a high level. What I see here, his passing ability is absolutely outstanding, combined in such a humble personality.”
There has been a debate about where to field Kante since Jorginho’s 2018 arrival. Maurizio Sarri used him as a No. 8 on the right; Frank Lampard sometimes did. Tuchel sees him as one of two defensive midfielders.
“For me, his best position is as a double No. 6,” he said. “He can play single No. 6 but if he plays a single No. 6 you have to be more disciplined. It would cut his wings a bit so double No. 6 is his best position. A strength for him is to have a kind of freedom to use his range and volume. If we keep the structure we have in the last games it suits him very well. We want short distances so we can use his strengths in counter-pressing and recoveries of the ball.”
Tuchel is set to rotate as he faces Championship opponents in his first FA Cup tie. “There is a high possibility we will make a lot of changes,” he said. “Everybody who deserves to be on the pitch hasn't been on the pitch so far.” That is likely to include Hakim Ziyech, who started Tuchel’s first game but has not featured in the last three.
“We took some decisions for other players, not against him,” said the German, as he underlined the challenge facing the 2020 signing. “He’s come from a strong Ajax squad who were the benchmark in their league but it is not the same intensity and competition as it is here. He has the quality to decide matches and to do the unexpected, which can give you an extra twist in any game.”
Tuchel has won the German and French Cups as a manager and hopes to complete a hat-trick in England.
“Even if you are a little boy in Germany with no internet and no sports channels you know the words Wembley and FA Cup,” he explained. “It is a big, big goal to achieve.”
