Thomas Tuchel: It's a ‘miracle’ Chelsea finished third after N'Golo Kante’s injury issues

Frenchman helps Blues clinch a 1-1 draw against Leicester that all but guarantees a third-place Premier League finish

Chelsea's French midfielder N'Golo Kante runs with the ball during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge in London on May 19, 2022. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /

Chelsea's Marcos Alonso celebrates after levelling the scores at 1-1 in the Premier League match against Leicester City on May 19, 2022. EPA

Marcos Alonso celebrates with teammate Reece James after scoring. EPA

James Maddison (right) celebrates giving Leicester the lead. PA

Leicester City's James Maddison scores their first goal. Reuters

Maddison, right, celebrates after scoring. AP

Marcos Alonso celebrates after levelling for Chelsea. Getty

Marcos Alonso makes it 1-1. Getty

Thomas Tuchel said Chelsea's likely third-place Premier League finish despite the injury struggles of key player N'Golo Kante is nothing short of a "miracle".

French midfielder Kante has endured an injury-ravaged campaign that has seen him sit out more than half the Blues' matches in 2021/22.

But his influence was on full display Thursday as his energy and guile contributed to Chelsea's 1-1 draw at home to Leicester City that all but assures them of third place and with it automatic qualification to next season's Champions League group phase.

Chelsea boast a goal difference superiority of 18 on fourth-placed Tottenham, and manager Tuchel believes the job to seal third is effectively done and dusted.

Tuchel underlined Kante's influence, measuring his importance against the likes of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk for Liverpool and Neymar and Kylian Mbappe for Paris Saint-Germain.

“I think he is our key, key, key player; but key, key, key players need to be on the pitch,” Tuchel said of Kante.

“He plays only 40 per cent of the games. So it’s maybe a miracle that we arrived in third place.

“Because he is our Mo Salah, he is our Van Dijk, he is our [Kevin] De Bruyne, he is simply that player.

“He is our Neymar, he is our Kylian Mbappe; he is the guy who makes the difference.

“And if you only have him 40 per cent it’s a huge problem.

“Given that percentage it’s maybe a miracle of how consistent we produce results and puts everything into perspective.

“Because I saw Liverpool without Van Dijk last season and they struggled, heavily. And you see the difference.

“So N’Golo is our key player, and he needs to be on the pitch.”

Asked if Chelsea can solve Kante’s physical issues, Tuchel continued: “I hope so. It’s hard to live with, because it’s important for him to be there and have the rhythm.

“I think he played OK, but he can play so much better.

“He can play so much better, but when was his last game that he started, it was weeks ago.

“So he constantly starts getting rhythm, then once he gets rhythm comes a little injury and he’s out again.

“Imagine last year, he was in the last five matches of Champions League man of the match.

“I mean they handed him the trophy before the match, because it was clear when he played he would be man of the match. It was like this.

“And this guy who gets man of the match in every Champions League game, he’s only here for 40-something per cent of the match.”

Chelsea v Leicester ratings

James Maddison lashed Leicester into an early lead at Chelsea, before Alonso volleyed home from Reece James’ fine angled cross.

“We were the better team and we deserved to win, but we did what was needed,” said Tuchel.

“We needed a point, we got a point, and didn’t allow any chances.

“But today is still the day where we secured third place.”

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers hailed goalscorer Maddison for emerging from tough times to produce a fine overall campaign.

“James really is a top player and he’s maturing with every game that he plays," Rodgers said.

“I thought he was our standout player with the ball, his aggression, his ability to take the ball in space.

“This is a young man that showed great courage and came to me when he said his confidence had taken a bit of a hit.

“We just built him up again, fundamentally helped him work hard on his game.

“And from that moment he’s worked his way back into the game, been consistent and defensively he’s been very good.

“He’s really, really improved, and he’s been our top player this season.”