Replacing Kante was scary for me - Ndidi

Nigeria international, Wilfred Ndidi, has revealed that it was scary replacing N’Golo Kante at Leicester City after the Foxes won the Premier League.

Kante joined Chelsea in 2016, after a pivotal part in the Foxes' triumph a season before and became the first player since Eric Cantona in 1993 to win back?to-back top-flight titles in England with two clubs. He was also named the Premier League Player of the Season.

Ndidi who was picked up from Genk in January 2017 for £17m had only spent about two seasons in the midfield position after he started as a defender.

In a chat with ‘Out of Home Podcast’, Ndidi said that “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.”

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.