Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has named Chelsea star N’Golo Kante as the toughest opponent he has ever played against.
Kante joined Chelsea from Leicester City back in July 2016, just weeks after he played a key role in the Foxes’ Premier League title triumph under Claudio Ranieri.
Since his arrival at the club, Kante has been a regular in midfield, having played more than 20 games in each of his first five full seasons at Stamford Bridge.
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The France international was also key to Chelsea successes last campaign, including man of the match displays in both Champions League semi-finals vs Real Madrid as well as the final against Man City in Lisbon.
And Gundogan, who also played in last year’s Champions League final against the Blues, believes that Kante’s work rate makes him the toughest player he has ever played against.
‘If i need to compare position wise, someone who plays in midfield, probably someone like N’Golo Kante, just the fact that you know you pass him and you feel like he cannot come back anymore,’ he said.
‘And then a couple of seconds later when you think you have a bit of space and time, he’s there. ‘He’s incredible, the amount of work that he puts into the game, it’s just unbelievable.’
Gundogan and Man City currently sit three points behind leaders Chelsea in the Premier League table after 12 games.
Pep Guardiola’s team host West Ham United on Sunday, while the Blues welcome Manchester United to Stamford Bridge.
