The German was waxing lyrical once more about a star man after he cemented his return to action on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
N\u2019Golo Kante is Chelsea\u2019s \u201cMohamed Salah, Kylian Mbappe and Virgil van Dijk\u201d, according to manager Thomas Tuchel, who says it would have been a \u201cmiracle\u201d for the Blues to finish in the top four of the Premier League without the France star.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defensive midfielder, often highlighted as a central figure within the German coach\u2019s system at Stamford Bridge, has often been treated as something of a protected commodity, in part due to an unfortunate injury record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having returned from another knock with a cameo off the bench against Liverpool in Saturday\u2019s FA Cup final loss, the World Cup winner started for Chelsea in Thursday\u2019s 1-1 draw with Leicester \u2013 and his boss was quick to wax lyrical about his impact afterwards, even amid his fitness issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What has Tuchel said about Kante? \u201cHe is our Mo Salah, he is our Van Dijk, he is our De Bruyne. He is simply that player, he is our Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. He is that guy who makes the difference and if you only have him for 40 per cent, then it is a huge problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGiving that percentage it is maybe a miracle that he produces results. It puts everything into perspective as I saw Liverpool without Van Dijk last season and they struggled heavily. You see the difference. N\u2019Golo is our key player and we need him on the pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cI think he is our key, key, key player but key, key, key players need to be on the pitch,\u201d Tuchel stated. \u201cHe plays only 40 per cent of the games then it is maybe a miracle that we arrive in third place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n