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LONDON. — Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has admitted the club were left “crying” over the departure of N’Golo Kante but is adamant that the midfielder’s void can be filled. Kante was one of the Foxes’ standout players in their shock English Premier League soccer title-winning campaign last season, but opted to join Chelsea in a £30million deal earlier this month.

Though rueful about the sale of a key player, Ranieri told reporters after Leicester’s International Champions Cup win over Celtic: “Last season we lost Esteban Cambiasso and everybody was crying. Now we are crying because we lost Kante. But don’t worry, football in Leicester will keep going.”

Kante made 37 top-flight appearances for Leicester last term and was named in the PFA Team of the Year alongside team-mates Wes Morgan, Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy. Chelsea moved quickly to secure Kante’s signature following the conclusion of Euro 2016, with the Frenchman hailing boss Antonio Conte as a crucial factor in his decision to join the west London club. — Daily Mail.