Chelsea have an embarrassment of attacking riches but Rio Ferdinand selected a surprise name as the most significant forward-thinking player in the 2-0 Champions League semi final second leg win over Real Madrid.
Timo Werner and Mason Mount were both on the scoresheet for Thomas Tuchel’s side but the Blues could have netted plenty more goals throughout the game due to the quantity and quality of chances created.
Whilst Werner and Mount caused Madrid problems throughout the games and Kai Havertz was also instrumental, BT Sport pundit Ferdinand picked out another player as the Blues most important attacking threat.
Christian Pulisic, Olivier Giroud and Hakim Ziyech were among the substitutes from the home side, but Ferdinand named N’Golo Kante as influential in an attacking sense for the Blues.
The Frenchman is more renowned for his defensive work and breaking up opposition attacks but his high energy levels ensured he was influential at both ends of the pitch for Tuchel’s team.
Ferdinand raved about the former Leicester star’s performance on BT Sport after the game: “Kante showed other sides of his game.
“We all know he is a holding midfielder, someone who is tenacious has great energy and can get around the park, win second balls and retrieves the ball so well.
“But he was actually the person who instigated the best attacking play for Chelsea, winning the ball and feeding it to someone else.”
Ferdinand’s BT Sport colleague Michael Owen was in agreement as he added: “Kante was unbelievable.
“He smelt the opportunity, vacated an area that was his area to leave so you have to be confident you are going to win it when you take that risk and he did.
“It was a great goal and Kante was right at the heart of it, just as he was for the first goal.”
