According to a report by Chelsea Chronicles on Saturday, November 7, 2026, Timo Werner has praised his former Chelsea teammate N’Golo Kante, describing him as a player whose influence on matches reminded him of Lionel Messi despite their different positions and roles on the pitch.

The German forward played alongside Kante at Stamford Bridge, with both players helping Chelsea win the Champions League in 2021 under Thomas Tuchel. The French midfielder produced an outstanding performance against Manchester City in the final.

Although Kante rarely attracted attention through goals and assists, his defensive qualities made him an exceptional player. His tireless running, ability to win possession and excellent positional awareness helped Chelsea recover the ball and protect their defence.

Werner recalled that Kante played with little visible pressure despite being a World Cup winner. He appeared to enjoy competing and had a natural ability to take the ball away from opponents.

“Playing with him was like having a 12th man on the pitch,” Werner explained, highlighting how the midfielder's presence gave his teammates confidence and made Chelsea stronger across the pitch.

Kante's defensive contributions also allowed Chelsea's attacking players to focus more on creating opportunities and threatening opponents in the final third. His constant work rate reduced their defensive burden and improved the team's overall balance.

Werner believes Kante's influence during his best years at Chelsea was comparable to Messi's ability to change the outcome of matches. However, he explained that the Frenchman achieved this through his defensive brilliance rather than attacking contributions.

He added that having a player who consistently made the team feel as though it had an extra man defensively was extraordinary. Kante's ability to recover possession and cover large areas of the pitch gave Chelsea a significant advantage against their opponents.

Werner's comments highlight the midfielder's importance to Chelsea's Champions League success and explain why he was so highly valued by his teammates. In Werner's view, Kante was an exceptional match-winner whose influence went well beyond goals, assists and other statistics.