Leicester have lost a lot more than just a defensive midfielder. The champions have lost drive, appetite and identity and are woefully short on confidence and conviction, exactly the qualities that teams below them are beginning to show
Many people thought N’Golo Kanté was unlucky to miss out on the individual awards at the end of last season. His contribution to Leicester’s overall efficiency was immense, even if it was not as eye-catching as some of Jamie Vardy’s goals or as silkily impressive as Riyad Mahrez’s support play.
The French midfielder has much more chance of recognition this time around. Not just because Chelsea winning the league would bring him a second champions medal in successive seasons, or make his £32m transfer fee look a relative bargain, but because Leicester are in such imminent danger of relegation. Kanté was the only prominent member of Claudio Ranieri’s title-winning squad to leave last summer, and look at the difference. Danny Drinkwater seems lost without him.
Related: Relegation would not taint Leicester’s title win, it would add to the legend | Scott Murray
Related: Leicester’s Kasper Schmeichel warns of relegation after ‘unacceptable’ defeat
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