Ranieri: Kante Cut Out For Games Like That

- Claudio Ranieri hails ‘fantastic’ N’Golo Kanté after weekend win at Norwich
- Kanté had a hand in both City’s goals in the 2-1 victory at Carrow Road
- Ranieri admits he had to find a place in the team for the French-Malian
N’Golo Kanté was brought to Leicester City for games like Saturday’s at Norwich City, Claudio Ranieri says.
The summer signing from French club Caen was in superb form at Carrow Road, displaying both destructive and creative qualities in midfield.
Kanté’s ball-winning skills have been a feature of City’s play this season, but he also had a hand in both Leicester goals against the Canaries.
It was Kanté’s through ball that forced Sebastian Bassong into fouling Jamie Vardy for our first-half penalty. He then went on to set up Jeffrey Schlupp for the winner.
“We bought Kanté for matches like this,” Ranieri said after the game.
“He was fantastic. He presses the ball non-stop. I think he even presses people in the stands!
“Last season, he was the first player in the five top leagues in Europe for ball recoveries. He showed why today.”
Kanté has cemented a central berth in Ranieri’s midfield in recent weeks, having previously been asked to work his way in from a wider position.
And Ranieri said he simply had to find a place in the side for his diminutive, all-action midfielder.
“I played him wide to begin with (this season) because I wanted to get him on the pitch,” he said.
“Wherever you play him, he will play well.”