N’Golo Kante has been hailed as the best central midfielder in the world by former Blue Gus Poyet.

Kante has spent two full seasons in the Premier League, and has been the catalyst for winning the league on both occasions.

His importance in the Chelsea side is there for all to see, with him suffering a hamstring injury last month and the Blues suffering a run of poor form in his absence.

His return however has sparked good fortune, and Poyet is adamant he is the best in the world.

“They missed him a lot, you could see how much the minute he came back,” Poyet told Standard Sport.

“He’s easily the best central midfielder in the world. Easily. He would play in a World XI, no doubt. I know there are players like Casemiro, Sergio Busquets but he’s better than them.

“He knows the game, when to stay, when to run and how to run well. He reads it so well he knows what is going to happen before he gets there. That way he controls it with his incredible power and finesse. Normally players like that aren’t as good on the ball as Kante is.

“It’s incredible that he went to Leicester and nobody saw him until they won the league! You do what you do, managers do what they do but how didn’t any scouts see him?”

Despite his brilliance, Chelsea have been a little inconsistent this season – especially compared to the last campaign. And Poyet believes that winning the league as Chelsea boss is a ‘virus’.

“Winning the title, it’s a virus,” Poyet added. “After you win it the next year something goes wrong for Mourinho, Ancelotti and Conte. It’s tough and when you’re champions everyone wants to kill you.

“For Chelsea it was a very strange summer, a mess inside the club. The Costa situation was tough and so was replacing him. The new players need time to adapt and prove themselves.

“Last year, with all respect to the squad players, the team was made [he lists off last season’s title-winning side]. This year you make one team, I make one team, he makes one team, Conte makes another team. That consistency is why they won the league… not just of selection but formation and style of play.”
[Quotes via Evening Standard]