Chris Sutton has named the one Chelsea player who can stop Real Madrid superstar Luka Modric when the sides meet in the Champions League.
The Blues travel to Spain for the first leg of their quarter-final with Frank Lampard’s side handed an injury boost ahead of Wednesday’s showdown.
Chelsea have massively struggled domestically this term but have looked stronger in Europe as they look to shock the current holders.
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has urged his side not to underestimate Chelsea as the Spaniards look to lift the trophy in back-to-back seasons.
Modric, 37, remains one of Real Madrid’s most dangerous players but Sutton has argued there is one Chelsea player who can help keep him quiet.
‘Liverpool’s midfield were dominated by Real Madrid’s in the last round [and] Chelsea cannot allow that to happen to them,’ Sutton told the Daily Mail.
‘N’Golo Kante has trained ahead of this first leg and that could be huge.
‘Two years ago, when Chelsea beat Real in the semi-finals, Kante was Man of the Match in both legs, and again in the final against Manchester City.
‘Real are blessed with fine midfield options — Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni.
‘Kante will be itching to nip at their heels. It may be a gamble to start him after his injury but he is the supreme ball-winner to thwart Modric and Co.’
Kante, 32, was absent from the squad on Saturday as Chelsea lost 1-0 to Wolves in the Premier League – in what was Lampard’s first game back at Stamford Bridge in his second spell as head coach after he replaced the sacked Graham Potter.
World Cup winner Kante has missed the majority of the season with a hamstring injury and has played just four matches, none in the Champions League.
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