Rival legend suggests Chelsea ace should leave if he fails to secure regular playing time

John Barnes baffled by N’Golo Kante not starting more often for Chelsea

Speaking to BonusCodeBets (h/t Metro), John Barnes suggested that if N’Golo Kante does not get enough starts at Chelsea, the Frenchman would know himself that leaving the club is a viable option.

The Frenchman has started just the one league game for the club under new manager Thomas Tuchel. He did not feature against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley. (h/t Transfermarkt)

And in three of the four league games after that, he has only come as a substitute, starting the other. This is something that baffles Liverpool legend John Barnes, who cannot understand why the 29-year-old is not starting for Chelsea.

“N’Golo Kante is a hardworking midfield player, great on the ball, very good defensively, and also a World Cup winner… I can’t believe he’s not able to get a game at Chelsea to be honest…”

Kante back to the starting XI

He then went on to suggest that a move away from Chelsea would make sense for the French international if he was on the lookout for more minutes.

“If Kante is not getting the opportunities at Chelsea, he will know more than most that he needs to move to make sure he’s playing regular football. He’s too good not to be playing.”

Mateo Kovacic has been deployed in the defensive midfield role by Tuchel in all of his first 6 games in charge in the Premier League. Barnes praised the Croatian for his performances, and he is not wrong.

However, Kante, at 29, is still not past his physical prime and would hope that he can regain his starting spot in the Chelsea team.

More Chelsea News:

• Kepa Arrizabalaga admits he is not afraid anymore at Chelsea
• Chelsea star Tammy Abraham closing in on a return from injury
• Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel opens up on why Hakim Ziyech is struggling for game time

Kante has 199 appearances for the Blues since he joined the club from Leicester City in 2016. He has been a regular in Chelsea’s XI in the past few seasons and started the first 17 games of this league season.