UpdatedTuesday, February 14, 2017
The English premier league have been exciting with clashes and encounters between top coaches in the premier league. The English premier league is arguably the best league in the world and the most watched football league in the world. There are a lot of internal player rivalries in the premier league which has also attained a lot of debates among fans.
In this article, the Pogba and Kante debate will be digested thoroughly. N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba are both midfielders with immense rivalry because of the clubs they play for, Leicester City and Manchester United respectively.
Majority of football fans believe that N’Golo Kante is playing better than Paul Pogba this season. The debate of Paul Pogba and N’Golo to who is the best player is a debate that is on a rise.
The Rise of N’Golo Kante
N’Golo Kante was signed by Leicester City from Caen under the scouting eye of Steve Walsh. The 25 year old midfielder was signed by Leicester City in August 2015 for a fee of €8 million. With N’Golo Kante’s superb performance for Leicester City and aiding Leicester City win the league, Chelsea was on the radar to sign N’Golo Kante. On July 2016 Chelsea signed N’Golo Kante for a fee of £32 million.
The Rise of Paul Pogba.
Paul Pogba is an old pal for Manchester United having spent his youthful days at Manchester United. Pogba joined Manchester United for the first time in October 2009 as a U18 player. 3 years later, Pogba’s contract with Manchester United expired and Sir Alex Furguson refused to renew the contract. On 3 August 2012 Paul Pogba joined Juventus in a free transfer fee. At Juventus, Pogba was very phenomenal and instrumental in the team and he also won U20 world cup with France. In 2016 the speculation of Pogba leaving Juventus was high and many clubs were on the radar to sign the 23 year old French International. On 8 August 2016, Manchester United won the bid in signing Paul Pogba. Pogba was signed on a record transfer fee of €100 million.
This comparison between Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante will be based on the 2016-17 premier league season. Midfielders are classified in parts, the defensive qualities and attacking qualities. In this statistical comparison, N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba will be analysed both defensively and attacking capabilities.
Appearances
N’Golo Kante: 24 matches
Paul Pogba: 24 matches
Attacking Statistics
Goals
N’Golo Kante: 1 goal
Paul Pogba: 4 goals
Shots Fired
N’Golo Kante: 22 shots
Paul Pogba: 81 shots
Shots on Target
N’Golo Kante: 6 shots
Paul Pogba: 27 shots
Assists
N’Golo Kante: 0
Paul Pogba: 3
Passes Completed
N’Golo Kante: 1,434 passes
Paul Pogba: 1,787 passes
Passes per Game
N’Golo Kante: 59.75 passes
Paul Pogba: 74.46 passes
Crosses
N’Golo Kante:
Paul Pogba: 33
Through Balls
N’Golo Kante: 3 passes
Paul Pogba: 23 passes
Long Balls
N’Golo Kante: 94 passes
Paul Pogba: 132 passes
Defensive Statistics
Tackles
N’Golo Kante: 84 tackles
Paul Pogba: 44 tackles
Tackles Success
N’Golo Kante: 64%
Paul Pogba: 73%
Blocked Shots
N’Golo Kante: 7 shots
Paul Pogba: 15 shots
Defensive Interceptions
N’Golo Kante: 54
Paul Pogba: 30
Defensive Clearances
N’Golo Kante: 27 clearances
Paul Pogba: 34 clearances
Ball Recoveries
N’Golo Kante: 190 recoveries
Paul Pogba: 179 recoveries
Duels Won
N’Golo Kante: 140 challenges
Paul Pogba: 234 challenges
50/50 Battles Won
N’Golo Kante: 27 challenges
Paul Pogba: 61 challenges
Aerial Battles Won
N’Golo Kante: 18
Paul Pogba: 75
From the statistics, Paul Pogba is overwhelmingly good in attacking areas over N’Golo Kante. Paul Pogba is better in giving perfect passes and he also have eyes for long passes. Paul Pogba also have the ability to place a shot at goal. In all attacking areas of the midfield, Paul Pogba is better than N’Golo Kante.
Defensively, Paul Pogba have the edge of power play against N’Golo Kante. Paul Pogba is better than N’Golo in Aerial challenges, winning 50/50 balls and winning balls from opponents. With power play in the midfield, Paul Pogba is better than N’Golo Kante.
One thing about N’Golo Kante that no midfielder can boast of, is his tackles, Interceptions and ball recoveries.
Paul Pogba is an all round midfielder both attacking and defensive capabilities while N’Golo Kante is a typical defensive midfielder comfortable in his own area. N’Golo Kante have very weak attacking qualities.
Concluding, Paul Pogba is a best all around midfielder as compared to N’Golo Kante. With both defensive and attacking instincts as compared to N’Golo Kante who is only better in defensive midfielder. Some fans and pundits think that Manchester United signing Paul Pogba with a huge amount was not justifiable as compared to Chelsea who bought N’Golo Kante with some few. Notwithstanding the position of Manchester United, Paul Pogba have exhibited his box to box midfield qualities exceptionally this season.
Paul Pogba have been playing better than N’Golo Kante and Pogba is still playing better than N’Golo Kante this season in the premier league.
