Kante again underlined his importance to Chelsea during 2021/22, despite, or perhaps because, it was a season of interruptions for the Frenchman, with both injury and illness at awkward times making it difficult for him to enjoy a prolonged period of action and really hit his stride.

Thomas Tuchel suggested it was no coincidence that the dips in his team’s form often coincided with Kante’s absence, but when he was available he continued to operate to his relentlessly high standards, earning trophies and individual honours.

Starting as skipper

The high regard he is held in at Chelsea was underlined in our first match of the season, when he was handed the captain’s armband from the start for the second time under Tuchel, a role he would reprise on several occasions throughout the campaign. This one ended with the Blues lifting silverware, though, as we defeated Villarreal in the UEFA Super Cup in Belfast.

Other early highlights included his two goals in 2021/22, as he scored twice in very similar circumstances in the Premier League. Both strikes were our second in a 3-0 away win, first at London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in September and then on his return to former club Leicester City two months later.

Frustrating winter

However, while his form had been excellent, tasting defeat just once in all competitions by November, there had already been early signs of the frustrations which would hamper his campaign, as a groin injury and a positive Covid test had both kept him out of action for short periods, as well as forcing him to miss France’s triumph at the UEFA Nations League finals.

Unfortunately, they turned out to be signs of what was to come, as a knee injury suffered in the first half of a 4-0 Champions League win over Juventus at Stamford Bridge, just three days after his scoring return to the King Power Stadium, ruled Kante out for much of November and the start of December.

Timely return

The Frenchman returned at a crucial stage of our campaign, as we struggled to recapture our fine early-season form with a depleted squad. His infusion of energy was important in helping to steady the ship on the domestic front, despite Covid again meaning he was unavailable in early January, and the turn-of-the-year saw him named in the FIFA FIFPro Men’s World 11, receive the UEFA Men’s Midfielder of the Year award and be shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or.

He was back to play his part in another trophy triumph in Abu Dhabi, though, coming off the bench at half-time in our FIFA Club World Cup semi-final win over Al Hilal and providing a typically all-action display over the full 120 minutes of the final as we beat Palmeiras 2-1.

Finishing strong

The second half of the campaign allowed him to hit his stride more consistently, as he strung together 16 consecutive Premier League appearances up to the end of April while we looked to consolidate our place in the top four following the difficult end to 2021, as well as captaining the side again as we went within a whisker of an incredible comeback in the second leg of our Champions League quarter-final away at Real Madrid.

He also showed himself to be an increasingly creative force during that period, setting up four Premier League goals in the early months of 2022, matching his best season for assists in England so far.

An injury kept Kante out again at the start of May, with the team finding things difficult without him at a crucial stage, but another timely return saw him start against his former club Leicester as we secured an important draw and third place in the table.

N’Golo Kante 2021/22 Chelsea stats

Appearances: 42

Starts: 31

Substituted: 16

Unused sub: 2

Minutes played: 2,902

Goals: 2

Assists: 4

N’Golo Kante Premier League appearances 2021/22

N’Golo Kante played 26 games in the Premier League for Chelsea this season, coming off the bench for five of them.

N’Golo Kante Champions League appearances 2021/22

N’Golo Kante made six appearances in the Champions League this season, all from the start.

N’Golo Kante FA Cup appearances 2021/22

N’Golo Kante played three times in the FA Cup this season, all from the bench.

N’Golo Kante Carabao Cup appearances 2021/22

N’Golo Kante made four appearances in the Carabao Cup this season, two from the start.

N’Golo Kante UEFA Super Cup appearances 2021/22

N’Golo Kante started the UEFA Super Cup.

N’Golo Kante FIFA Club World Cup appearances 2021/22

N’Golo Kante played in both matches at the Club World Cup, starting in the final.

N’Golo Kante goals 2021/22

N’Golo Kante scored two goals for Chelsea in 2021/22, both in the Premier League.