Antonio Conte got one of the biggest stars from last season’s Premier League into the Chelsea team. The Blues managed to sign N’Golo Kante from Leicester City and there is no doubt that the 25-year-old French midfielder would directly go into the Chelsea starting line-up for this season.
The signing of the talented midfielder does cast a doubt over the role of Nemanja Matic and also his future at the club. Chelsea did splash the cash in bringing the Frenchman but did they really need to sign him when they had the Serbian? After all, Matic did have an impressive 14/15 season and most of the Chelsea players had a poor campaign last time around.
Antonio Conte might be looking to play two defensive midfielders this season and the pairing of Matic and Kante would surely lead them to glory, if only Matic can play to a similar level to what he did a couple of years ago.
We take a look at the 14/15 season for Matic and compare that with Kante’s last season at Leicester with the help of Squawka.com. We would only be looking at the per 90 minute averages for certain stats so as to see just what each player did in their respective seasons.
The Serbian tank vs. the French destroyer
Passing is the obviously the first place we need to see which player did better. Surprisingly it is Matic who had the better pass completion percentage in the 14/15 season with an 86% completion rate compared with Kante’s 82% last season.
Even though Leicester player a more direct game with long balls to Jamie Vardy, it is Matic who had the greater length of passes with an average of 17.86m compared to 16.59 for Kante, which is another surprising stat when comparing the duo.
When it comes to the crunch of tackling, there is not beating the Leicester City midfielder with the 25-year-old winning 3.72 tackles last season while Matic came in with 2.91 in the 14/15 season for the Blues.
However, when it comes to taking on other players it is the Serbian who has a better percentage of successful take ons with 78.79% compared to just 58.02% for Kante, which states that he isn’t the best at beating other players with the ball at his feet.
Even when it comes to battling in the air, it is Matic who had a better season in the 14/15 campaign with 2.16 aerial duels won compared to just 1.13 for Kante in the title winning season last time around.
But the French midfielder doesn’t need to beat other players, his ability to read passes and intercept the opposition’s ball is another thing to marvel at and he did finish last season with 4.64 interceptions per 90 minutes which shatters Matic’s 2.10 interceptions per 90 in the 14/15 season.
It does seem that Matic and Kante could very well play together as one compensates for the other in most departments. Chelsea did require someone who can do the things that Matic cannot and it does seem that they did make the right decision in getting the French midfielder; the only question that remains is how Matic would fit in at the Blues.
Chelsea
Sonia Bompastor Refuses to Address Sam Kerr Exit Speculation Amid Chelsea Striker’s Uncertain Future
Sonia Bompastor has declined to discuss Sam Kerr’s future at Chelsea amid mounting speculation the Australian superstar will walk away from Stamford Bridge as a free agent this summer. The prolific striker’s contract expires at the end of the current campaign, with numerous reports claiming she has already decided to leave after seven years in English football.
Bompastor shut down questions about Kerr’s situation during her pre match press conference, stating that both the forward and captain Millie Bright, remain under contract for now. The Chelsea boss made clear she will not be drawn into speculation about player futures while matches remain to be played this season.
Sam Kerr Departure Would End Glorious Era
The potential exit of Kerr alongside long time captain Bright would signal the end of Chelsea’s most successful period in their history. The club has already lost Guro Reiten permanently, while Catarina Macario is heading to America on what reports claim will be a record shattering NWSL contract worth millions.
Chelsea appears committed to rebuilding around younger talent rather than extending deals for established stars entering the latter stages of their careers. This strategic shift could see several high profile names depart simultaneously this summer.
American Clubs Preparing Lucrative Offers for Sam Kerr
Multiple NWSL franchises are circling for Kerr’s signature, hoping to lure the Australian back to the United States, where she previously starred before joining Chelsea. The American league has dramatically increased investment in recent years, offering salaries that can now compete with European clubs.
Ian Wright publicly criticized any decision to offer Kerr merely a short extension rather than a substantial long term deal, arguing her legendary status deserves better recognition. However, Chelsea’s transfer strategy appears already set, with youth recruitment taking priority over sentiment towards club icons nearing the end of their peak years.
Chelsea
26-Year-Old Set for $8M Move to San Diego Wave as Chelsea Striker Expected to Leave Stamford Bridge With Transfer Window Nearing Final Days
Catarina Macario is expected to leave Chelsea F.C. Women and complete a move to San Diego Wave FC with the transfer window nearing its final days. Reports suggest the NWSL side is working quickly to finalize the deal, which could be worth roughly $8 million in total contract value.
The proposed transfer fee is believed to be around $300,000, which is frankly a favorable outcome for Chelsea given that Macario’s contract expires this summer. Without a sale now, the American international could have left the club as a free agent at the end of the season, which would have been disastrous business.
San Diego Using High Impact Player Rule
San Diego Wave are planning to sign the forward using the NWSL’s High Impact Player rule, a mechanism that allows clubs to pay certain star players up to $1 million outside the league’s salary cap. To qualify, players must meet specific performance or profile criteria, which Macario certainly does.
The current NWSL salary cap stands at $3.7 million, making the rule an important tool for attracting top international talent. This represents a significant investment from San Diego, who are absolutely serious about building a championship winning squad.
Has Not Featured Regularly for Chelsea
Macario has not featured regularly for Chelsea in recent weeks, partly due to injury concerns and the uncertainty surrounding her future. Despite her absence, Chelsea recently secured their first trophy of the season by defeating Manchester United Women in the Women’s League Cup final.
The London club remain active on multiple fronts, still competing in the UEFA Women’s Champions League and preparing for the quarter final stage of the Women’s FA Cup.
Chelsea Sit Third in WSL
However, Chelsea’s domestic league campaign has been more challenging. For the first time in five seasons, they are no longer clear favorites for the Women’s Super League title under manager Sonia Bompastor.
Chelsea
Joe Montemurro Makes Remarkable Juventus vs Chelsea Comparison After Matildas Gets Past Best Team at Asia Cup
Joe Montemurro showed a flexibility to his approach in the Women’s Asian Cup quarter finals that meant the Matildas prevailed by adapting to the circumstances in front of them, even if it was contradictory to the style that is in his DNA. Australia edged North Korea 2-1 in Perth to make the semi finals in what was a resilient performance against the tournament’s best team.
“Let’s be frank and honest here. Winning football games like that, it usually happens in tournaments,” Montemurro said after the victory. The Italian boss then turned to his captain, Sam Kerr, in the press conference and referenced one of his key wins in European football with Juventus against her Chelsea side.
Had 450 Million Shots and We Had One
“I’ve done it a few times like that in Champions League. I think there was a game against Chelsea, we got a draw. They had 450 million shots, and we had one,” Montemurro said with a smile. This Champions League reference perfectly illustrated the type of performance Australia needed to overcome North Korea.
He added, “We knew that they were a great side. They’re the best team in the tournament. They really are. So we just had to be methodical. Where we won the game were the little bits in between, as we were losing the ball or as we were winning the ball to keep our shape and keep our organisation. We didn’t create much. We had to resist a lot.”
It’s Who I Am But Part of Remit to Win
Montemurro was absolutely honest about abandoning his preferred style for tournament pragmatism. “Do I want to play a possession based game? Do I want to keep the ball? It’s who I am. It’s my DNA, but part of my remit is to win football matches,” he explained.
He continued, “Sometimes you have to have that flexibility. At this level, it’s all about moments. It’s all about taking those moments.”
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