N'Golo Kante has amassed a reputation as one of football's biggest nice guys, but there is a darker side to the France international.
Kante has become a treasured member of the Chelsea squad, playing a starring role as Thomas Tuchel and his men secured the Champions League title with a win over Manchester City in the final.
But even rival fans find it hard to dislike the World Cup winner given his humble attitude towards football and life, often appearing unassuming and unfazed by the limelight.
Though, it seems there is a darker side to Kante, especially when it comes to board games, card games and the like, or at least according to France and Chelsea teammate Olivier Giroud.
"I don't want to go into details, but he also has his flaws," the striker said during France duty. "When we play cards and stuff like that, he is such a winner that he cheats a bit with the rules and I am not the only one saying this."
Not the only one indeed, with Manchester United and France star Paul Pogba also telling: "He cheats a lot. A lot. At card games, board games. Honestly, I'm telling the truth. He cheats.
"He says he doesn't cheat, but he does. He uses cunning. He's a smart kid, N'Golo. But it's okay. You have to love him."
And while cheating in card games is not exactly an unforgivable sin, Kante has countered the nice guy image himself in recent days.
“It is true that sometimes, there is this image that is a bit too wonderful and a bit too beautiful," he said, as published by GetFootballFrance. "But in the end, I am just a normal guy. A player amongst others.
"There is no need to say I am the kindest, or the nicest. I am just a player like the others. I think that sometimes, it is overblown.
"It does not need to be. It is true that I like to get on well with my team-mates, to have good relationships with people that I come across in the streets and in football.
"But aside from that, there are other people like that in football. We don’t need to make a whole story or sometimes exaggerate.”
