Antonio
Conte wants N'Golo Kante's development into "a complete player" to stand as
a lesson for Chelsea team-mate Tiemoue Bakayoko.
Kante last season became the first outfield player to win successive Premier
League titles with different clubs, earning both major individual awards in
the process.
Conte consistently challenged the midfielder to show more composure in
possession and believes the hard work has paid off - and the Blues manager's
next target is Bakayoko, the powerful 23-year-old recruited to fill Nemanja
Matic's role.
"Last season I said during many press conferences about N'Golo that he could
improve a lot with the ball," said Conte. "He's working very hard to improve
this weakness.
"But I think now he's a complete player - he's a top player with the ball,
without the ball. He always knows when he has the ball what he has to do.
"Baka without the ball is a really strong player, a physical player. He can
improve a lot with the ball. We are working a lot on this aspect with him.
"We try to play with an identity and if you want to give an identity to your
team, every single player needs to know very well your idea of football. To
have in your team a powerful player is very important, above all in this
league."
Kante and Bakayoko are both likely starters on Super Sunday, when Arsenal
visit Stamford Bridge.
Conte has lost three of his four meetings with the Gunners, last season's
3-0 defeat at the Emirates provoking the change in system which set Chelsea
on course for the title.
"It was a really bad game for us," said the Italian, who insists he never
worried about being sacked. "Then we changed our system because after that
game I understood very well our team. We hadn't balance.
"In that game they dominated us from the start until the end. After that
game we changed a lot of things and then we won the league."
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