Barney Ronay: N’Golo Kanté is the great hidden gift in every group 

Kante is the one-man midfield who conquered Europe for Chelsea

File photo dated 29-05-2021 of Chelsea's Ngolo Kante with the trophy following the UEFA Champions League final match held at Estadio do Dragao in Porto, Portugal. Issue date: Sunday May 30, 2021. PA Photo. Cesar Azpilicueta hails N’Golo Kante as best midfielder in the world. See PA Story SOCCER Chelsea Azpilicueta. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire

The Champions League final of 2021 will be remembered as the night when Manchester City sent out an excess of midfielders, a tripling-up of midfielders, a team clogging every hole with essence of midfielder. In an odd twist Chelsea did pretty much the same, albeit in more targeted fashion. Enter, N’Golo Kanté, the one-man midfield overload.

There was a moment in the second half at the Estádio do Dragão when Kanté drew gasps and purrs around the plastic seats, a sense of one man taking the endgame into his own hands.