While Kante is guiding Chelsea to the Premier League title, Aston Villa have looked lost at times without Idrissa Gueye.
It takes something special to stand out in a side so collectively pitiful as Aston Villa circa 2015/16. Yet, Idrissa Gueye managed that and more last season.
As reported by the Liverpool Echo, only the title-winning N’Golo Kante racked up more tackles than Gueye in Europe’s top five leagues last season. If Villa conceded an astonishing 76 goals in the Premier League last season with the all-action midfield anchor in their side, imagine the numbers if he wasn’t present to bail out his deplorable team-mates on a regular basis.
And former Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo, who was powerless to prevent Gueye retaining his top flight status with a summer move to Everton, has likened the former Lille enforcer with Chelsea’s omnipotent dynamo.
“He is doing very good things. I consider him very similar to Kante,” the Italian told the Daily Star. “He is a very humble player, always available to do the dirty job for his team. He’s a good player, fast and really physically strong.
“Maybe he is not under the spotlights, but he’s really a very good player.”
Gueye has arguably taken his game to another level under Ronald Koeman this season, adding forward thrust to his rugged determination and swarming high-press.
In the meantime, Villa have been defeated far too easily this season, often going down without a fight thanks to a midfield that has looked light on energy.
It would have taken a minor miracle for Villa to hang onto Gueye beyond last summer but, if the Frenchman had stayed, it’s no overreaction to suggest they may be far closer to the play-off positions.
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