N'Golo Kante justified his tag as a "big game player" with a sensational Man of the Match performance against Real Madrid.
Chelsea drew 1-1 in the Champions League semi-final first leg, with Christian Pulisic's away goal potentially proving crucial going into the second game at Stamford Bridge next week.
And Kante was easily the best player on the park, completely running the game from start to finish at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium.
Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric have regularly dominated midfields as a trio but Kante, with his energy and intelligence, restricted their influence on the match.
In total, the former Leicester City man contested 21 duels and completed six dribbles - more than anyone else on the pitch and also more than Real Madrid players managed altogether.
What's more, Kante had 79 touches and boasted a 88% pass accuracy. His highlights from the game are utterly brilliant and serve as further proof that nobody in world football is better at doing his job.
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His former teammate Cesc Fabregas put it perfectly on Twitter when he said that Kante is basically having two players in your team.
Fabregas wrote: "N'golo has always been a big game player. Never doubt him. He plays for 2."
World Cup winner Kante dominated Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 and he did exactly the same against their rivals tonight. Many felt Frank Lampard didn't quite use him properly but under Thomas Tuchel, he's been producing his usual all-action displays.
And Garth Crooks reckons Kante will be a vital player for Tuchel going forward.
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"The Chelsea manager has not been in a position to call on Kante as often as he would like because of injury but when he does the French dynamo takes his side to another level," Crooks wrote on BBC Sport.
Kante knows how to win trophies and Tuchel football matches. This combination has huge potential if both can stay the course."
Topics: Chelsea, Football, N'Golo Kante, Real Madrid
