“I have learned when to rest,” says Kante during an interview ahead of Chelsea’s match against Aston Villa

“I have learned when to rest,” says Kante during an interview ahead of Chelsea’s match against Aston Villa

Kante played his 200th Chelsea game last week, demonstrating his durability and quality during his nearly 5-year tenure at Stamford Bridge.

Our midfield maestro has been a mainstay since joining from Leicester City in the summer of 2016, but he has been hampered by a series of injuries in the last 18 months.

Playing through pain in the Europa League final in BAKU has consequences, and Kante has learned a lot in his time away from the field.

“When you play a lot of games in a row, you think it’s normal,” he explained in an exclusive interview with the Chelsea website.

‘When an injury occurs, you play for two weeks and then get injured.’ It’s not ideal; you don’t feel as if you’re giving your all to the club or your teammates. You can use these experiences to appreciate when you are fit to play and train with your teammates more.

‘When you get hurt, it shows you what you can do better,’ he added.

” I’ve realized that it’s better to take your time recovering. I spoke with the medical staff in order to get the most out of myself for the team. This is something I’ve discovered.’

Chelsea identified Romeo Lavia as a potential Kante successor, which is why

‘I’m relieved to be feeling better now.’ We’ve played so many games in such a short period of time that injuries are possible, but we’re working hard to avoid further injuries. I’ve learned that if you’re not ready, taking your time will benefit the team more.”