N’Golo Kante has backed Chelsea summer signing Tiemoue Bakayoko to replace his former midfield partner Nemanja Matic. Matic spent three successful years at Stamford Bridge, helping the club win two Premier League titles, but was somewhat surprisingly allowed to join Manchester United in the summer.
Following his departure, Antonio Conte bolstered his midfield options with the signing of Bakayoko from Monaco and Danny Drinkwater from Leicester City.
Kante admits Matic helped him develop as a player but says Bakayoko is more than capable of flourishing in the English capital.
Speaking after Chelsea’s emphatic victory over Qarabag in the Champions League, Kante told Goal: ‘For sure, for sure Nemanja Matic was a good player for us.
‘I know he was in Chelsea for many years, I had the chance to play one year with him and he was a very good player for me.
‘We spent a good season together. He left now, he plays for United but Bakayoko has come and I think he’s a good player, and that we can do very well with him. Some players joined the club but it is like that in every club.
‘We try to make them feel good quickly and to understand how we play, how we train. I think they did very well.
‘Bakayoko scored his first goal. Zappacosta scored his first goal and it is good for them and good for us. We need everyone this month.’
Chelsea were beaten by Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal in the Community Shield at the start of the season but have since shown the form that helped them storm to the title last term.
Conte’s side have moved up to third in the table with three consecutive victories and welcome the Gunners to Stamford Bridge this weekend.
‘I think we played against them in FA Cup final, in pre-season in the Community Shield and I think they know how we play and also us we know how they play,’ Kante added.
‘It’s going to be a good fight, and we need to be ready for Sunday’s game but I think we know each other.
Source: Goal / Metro
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