NDIDI: REPLACING KANTE WAS SCARY

Wilfred Ndidi says it was a daunting task replacing N’Golo Kante at Leicester City.

Kante was a key figure in the Foxes’ Premier League title-winning team before he joined Chelsea.

The Foxes were reigning champions when they moved for Ndidi as a replacement for the French international in January 2017 for £17m.

Ndidi embraced the challenge and has gone on to make 130 appearances for the Foxes and has twice been named the club’s Young Player of the Year.

Looking back, Ndidi told ‘Out of Home Podcast’, “The pressure I got was that they just won the league, (N’Golo) Kante left and they were looking for a replacement.

“Seeing this whole situation, it was very scary for me. I was comfortable at Genk but it was like an opportunity for me to actually develop in my career. It was the right time for me to go because the club (Genk) wanted me to progress in my career.

“It was difficult at that time because I had to leave for another country and start afresh. Even during training, everyone wanted to see what I can do because the person who just left actually made a mark. So, the pressure was just there.

“But, I encouraged myself to be myself and not trying to fill in anybody’s shoes. All I wanted to do was make a mark for myself which is so possible and after playing the first two games, I got comfortable.”

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