Following on from the announcement that Chelsea and France midfielder N’golo Kante was crowned the EA SPORTS Player of the Season for 2016/17, easports.com spoke with the two-time Premier League title winner around the season as a whole, Antonio Conte’s tactics and what he aims to improve ahead of next season.
Kante covers a wide range of topics in the question and answer session below.
Undoubtedly, the most interesting is why Kante joined Chelsea in the first place.
“A step forward in my career”
Arguably, you could say that Kante signing for Chelsea was the crucial component to make them Premier League champions.
After all the French midfielder has no won the Premier League with two different clubs in successive seasons.
On leaving Leicester for Chelsea, Kante says: “It was a very difficult decision. With Leicester, we won the league and had a very good season but I think for me, it was a step forward in my career to join Chelsea and I am happy to have joined the club. We have had a very good season and I’m happy about that.”
EA Sports Q&A with N’Golo Kante
Congratulations N’golo, you have been named as the EA SPORTS Player Of The Season – How does it feel to get recognition from people like Sir Alex Ferguson, Alan Shearer and other big names in football?
It’s great to be voted as Player Of The Season by such big names in English football and football in general. I would also like to thank everyone at home who voted for me as well.
How does it make you feel that you have had this recognition?
It’s good as we have had a very good season as a club and we want to finish well in the FA Cup Final. To receive this award is a great pleasure and I want to thank everyone who voted for me.
How does this compare to winning the title with Leicester City last season?
It is a little bit different as with Leicester City it was very unexpected for us to win the league but with Chelsea it has been our target from the beginning of the season. To achieve that has been a great feeling.
You’ve had a very successful season personally, winning multiple awards, how do you reflect on the season for yourself?
I am very happy with my season. I joined Chelsea and everything was good, I played a lot, we won the league and now we have to finish strong by winning in the FA Cup Final – but so far we have had a very good season and I’m happy about that.
What made you want to join Chelsea in the first place?
It was a very difficult decision. With Leicester, we won the league and had a very good season but I think for me, it was a step forward in my career to join Chelsea and I am happy to have joined the club. We have had a very good season and I’m happy about that.
Everyone has made the point that you were with Leicester and they won the league and you are now with Chelsea and they have won the league. We believe you are only the second player to have achieved this, how proud does it make you feel?
Firstly, I am very proud to have won the title with both Leicester City and Chelsea. I think of it differently as it is not important to be a player written in history to have won back to back titles, but to win the title with two teams is great and to have two great seasons with two clubs makes me happy.
Winning back-to-back titles is very difficult to achieve – what do you put your success down to?
I work hard in training and during the game I will always give my best. I have also played with some very good players and I believe this is why I have won two titles in two seasons with two different teams.
What drives you personally?
The desire to always keep improving whilst learning from my manager and my teammates, as well as trying to win every game possible.
People always say that it takes time to adapt to playing in the Premier League but obviously you have come in and won the title with both Leicester and Chelsea – has this season been easier for you than last season?
It was very similar, as I had to try and adapt to a new club and a new team. I would say Leicester was different to Chelsea as this was my first club in England and the players were really nice to me. With Chelsea this is similar, we have a good spirit and everyone wants to win – and at the end of the day we won the league because we are a very good team.
Chelsea are a very good team – what is your personal highlight from this season?
I don’t think I would be able to choose one but when I arrived here I expected to be at the top of the table again. To win the league again would be my highlight from this season.
How do you improve on a season like this? What are N’golo Kante’s ambitions for next season?
Firstly, we need to finish the season on a high and win the FA Cup. Next season I am looking forward to playing in the Champions League as I have never played in this competition before. We also need to aim to retain our title as the Premier League champions. I am also looking forward to the World Cup with the national team.
How do you aim to improve as a player? What do you need to do next season to push yourself?
Try and do the same as always, work hard and play in-sync with my teammates. I need to see what I need to do for the level of the Champions League. Mainly, I just need to keep giving my best in the Premier League.
Is there a game in which you played in this season, which stands out to you as your best performance?
The team performed well all season but I would choose the Everton game as we won 5-0 and it was a very beautiful game. I would also choose the two goals which I scored against Manchester United. I’m happy to have scored against them and it’s always a great feeling to score.
A lot has been said about Antonio Conte changing the tactics back in September to 3-4-3, how did this effect your role and what was it like to have to adapt to the new role?
It was a new system to me; I never played in a 3-4-3 before but the manager worked really hard with us in training and after this I feel I adapted very well to the new system. Initially when we played 4-3-3 and I sat in front of the back four and it was a little bit different, but now I’m happy that the team are doing well in the new formation.
How much are you looking forward to next season?
We want to try and retain the title and get as far in the Champions League as possible. But we need to finish well in the FA Cup and then we can look forward to next season.
It’s been reported that yourself and David Luiz have a very good relationship – What’s it like playing alongside him?
Firstly, he is a very good man; he always wants to learn and help those younger than them. He has a lot of experience and will always share this with the younger players. He is a very good player who had a very good season and I am happy for me as he told me that he never wanted to leave Chelsea and we managed to win the league this season.
How fun is David Luiz to be around?
He always likes to joke around with me; sometimes he is very funny, sometimes not so much. He is a very good man and I like him a lot.
How do you feel you have developed under Antonio Conte this season? Do you feel like you have learned a lot?
Yes, I think tactically he has improved me. I learned a lot last season with Claudio Ranieri and again I have learned a lot this season with my new manager. Conte has helped me looking forward, as well as tactical awareness.
You seem to be a very popular player amongst the Chelsea squad as well as other Premier League players and fans. You always have a smile on your face – how important is it to keep a smile on the fans faces as well as your own?
It is a pleasure to be here and play football. A few years ago I just expected to be a professional footballer but not here. But to be here today at a big club like Chelsea playing alongside my teammates and to win the title like we did was a pleasure, and I want to enjoy it whilst I can as time goes quick.
Do you play much FIFA 17 as a team and if so, who is the best?
Yes, we do play FIFA 17 together. I tend to play against Cesar Azpilucueta a lot, who is very good and usually beats me, but he said that Thibaut Courtios is very good as well, so I guess I will have to say Thibaut Courtois is the best!
You’re not the first person to say that Courtois is the best FIFA 17 player – Does he beat everyone?
He beat me once! I think he and Azpi are the best, but Zouma and David Luiz are also very good. We seem to have some quite good FIFA 17 players at Chelsea
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