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Frank Lampard accused of playing Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante out of position


Frank Lampard has been accused of playing Chelsea ace N’Golo Kante out of position (Picture: Getty)

Frank Lampard has been accused of playing Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante out of position by former Blues star Gus Poyet.

Lampard has primarily played Kante on the right side of a three-man midfield since replacing Maurizio Sarri as Chelsea manager last summer.

Sarri, who left the Blues to join Juventus, was criticised for deploying Kante in a more advanced role but Poyet believes the French World Cup-winner is still being played out of position by Lampard.

‘In very important games Lampard went with Kante, Jorginho and Kovacic until the last month with injuries,’ Poyet told Goal.

‘Those are the three most experienced players who played under Sarri but now they play with more freedom, especially in Jorginho having more possibilities to move around to go sideways and forward. Last year, he was very static. There are plenty of options.

‘In Kante’s first year, he came to Chelsea and I made it public that he is the best central midfielder in the world. After a previous season as a number eight in that different position, we lost how important and unique he was as a player.

‘I hope he can get back to that. In his best position, he is unique and there’s not many players that can give you what he can do right now.’

Blues boss Lampard (Picture: Getty)

Since arriving in the Premier League, Kante has won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and Europa League with Leicester City and Chelsea.

Poyet, who made over 100 appearances for Chelsea in a four-year stint at Stamford Bridge, also discussed the emergence of Blues midfielder Billy Gilmour.

The 18-year-old broke into the Chelsea first-team before the season was suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak and impressed in victories over Liverpool and Everton.

‘I think that it was important for the club to see him before the end of the season,’ Poyet added.

‘He showed how mature he is especially in possession. Again, it isn’t a matter of performing once or twice but every month, season through season.

‘We should be happy to see him and hope he keeps developing his game slowly to become a better player because it is early doors.

‘I really enjoyed watching him and he could be an interesting player for the future. I prefer to make sure people take time with him and not go the other way.

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‘I was at Stamford Bridge a long time ago when a young Josh McEachran was making the team at 17.

‘The whole stadium were talking about him after that game. People were saying he was the next [Fernando] Redondo or [Pep] Guardiola.

‘Unfortunately it didn’t work out like that despite a great football career in the Championship. The idea to know is that it is difficult and [to know] how to progress in the next few months and years.’

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