He said: “I have known him a long time”.
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Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri hopes N’Golo Kante will get a warm reception today as the midfielder returns to the King Power Stadium with Chelsea.
Kante was the lynchpin of a Leicester City side that won the Premier League title past year, before moving to Chelsea for sizeable fee this summer.
But the Leicester boss, speaking ahead of the EFL Cup third-round tie at King Power Stadium on Tuesday, is adamant his compatriot will live up to expectations in London. Although the 25-year old hasn’t replicated the heroics of last season, Kante is already a pivotal member in Antonio Conte’s midfield.
“I will give him a very warm welcome back and I am sure also our fans, they must appreciate what he did last season and give him a warm welcome”, said the Italian Ranieri.
“I will be very happy if our fans clap him at the beginning and afterwards he is an enemy”.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is unlikely to rest first-team players for their League Cup clash against second-tier Derby County today.
‘For this reason, I say thank you to Jamie Vardy and his family, and to Riyad when they chose to stay here. “But I think he can lift some trophies”.
He added: “He (Conte) is a victor, but of course he needs time”.
He added: ‘He is a young player I really like, and I hope he will be better than I was’.
Kante certainly draws similarities to Makelele in his style of play, and the France global will want to provide an influence akin to Makelele for Chelsea as the Premier League season progresses. “I watch a good Chelsea so far”.
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Ranieri flagged the likely inclusion of some fresh faces in his starting XI, with reserve goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler to continue deputising for regular number one Kasper Schmeichel, who suffered concussion in training late last week and missed the 3-0 league win over Burnley on Saturday.
