Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante shines against Fulham but must still improve ‘tactically’, says Maurizio Sarri

Maurizio Sarri praised N’Golo Kante for how the midfielder responded to the manager’s own criticisms in the last week, but added he still needs to improve “tactically”.

The French international’s role in the Chelsea team has been questioned as he doesn’t yet seem fully in sync with Jorginho, whose place in the pivot position has seen Kante moved. There has been debate it has taken away from Kante’s game, with Sarri saying he has to adjust to a new role, but he was back to his relentless best in the 2-0 win over Fulham when setting up Pedro’s key opening goal with a typically rampaging run after winning the ball.

“I think he played very well,” Sarri said. “He defended very well. He needs, I think, to improve a little more from the tactical point of view, but it’s natural. In the national team he usually plays with the two midfielders. Last season, sometimes with two midfielders and sometimes with three but in the same position. So I think it’s normal he needs to improve.

“Today, better [positioning], I think. When the ball was on the other side of the pitch, better. I remember only one mistake in the first half. With the ball on the other side, he has to stay very close to Jorginho. Otherwise it’s a big problem for us. Jorginho can cut out passes from the opposition, but he’s not very strong at closing the open spaces.”

Sarri admitted that the days after the defeat to Tottenham “weren’t easy” for the players, and said that may have played into a touch of nervousness against Fulham.

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“About the performance, I think today the result was important. We started well. At 1-0, I think the players had a very good level of application and attention, but without time to think ... I think, today, we were a bit nervous. Of course, it wasn’t easy the days after Tottenham for me and the players, but I think that we have thought too much about that match. We lost a match after three and a half months. It can happen. So today it was important to react. But I think the team reacted really very well in the Europa League. Today was more important, of course, and I think in the minds of the players there was only the result.”

Sarri felt his team were always in control of the match, but did criticise the noon kick-off time.

“It’s not easy for the players to start a game at 12pm. We don’t like it, but I think if you ask 100 players, for 99 it is the same. We have to play at 12, we have to win at 12.”

Ruben Loftus-Cheek meanwhile came off the bench to score, and give Sarri even more to consider regarding his midfield selections.

“In the last three weeks, he’s solved me problems. I was really very happy after the last match in the Europa League because I think he played the best performance from the tactical point of view. I was really very happy. Today I saw [Mateo] Kovacic a bit tired, so I put him on the pitch without problems. I was sure about his impact in the match.”