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Maurizio Sarri playing style will require sacrifice from entire Chelsea squad, warns N'Golo Kante

New role: Kante has been deployed in a more offensive position under Sarri: Action Images via Reuters
New role: Kante has been deployed in a more offensive position under Sarri: Action Images via Reuters

Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante has warned the entire playing squad is "starting from zero" under Maurizio Sarri this season.

The France star has returned to west London following World Cup success with France and hopes this season to add to his Premier League and FA Cup medals won under Sarri's predecessor Antonio Conte.

Kante was a relative unknown when he joined Leicester from French side Caen for £5.6million in 2015, but has since reluctantly propelled himself into the limelight, winning a reputation as one of the world's best defensive midfielders.

“It’s a new season, we all start from zero again, and that is the way our job is," he told the Mirror.

“Whatever you did in the past is quickly forgotten. We all have to go again and prove we are worthy of our position. So, yeah, hopefully, I am able to do that again.”

And Kante is adapting to a new position under Sarri after the former Napoli boss shelved Conte's 5-3-2 formation in favour of a 4-3-3, with new signing Jorginho operating at the base of a three-man midfield.

The role frees Kante to play more offensively and Sarri saw instant results on Saturday when the France international opened the scoring in the 3-0 win over Huddersfield.

It was Kante's first Premier League goal since Sptember, but he says the process of adapting to the new set-up will take time.

Kante added: “Even during the holidays, we were thinking and talking about how to adapt. It will require a lot of sacrifice from us all, so that is why I have to continue moving forward as a player.

“I have worked with different managers in the past and different systems.

On target: Kante scored his first Premier League goal since September in Saturday's opener (Getty Images)
On target: Kante scored his first Premier League goal since September in Saturday's opener (Getty Images)

“The best way to always keep your position (in the team) is to remain focused and have the same attitude towards everyone.

“So that is what I am going to try to do again this season.”