N'Golo Kante denies Chelsea transfer was gamble as he targets Champions League next year

N'Golo Kante denies he has taken a major gamble in his career by joining Chelsea and putting his Champions League ambitions on hold for at least another year.

Kante would have played in Europe's premier club competition for the first time this term with champions Leicester, but opted to turn down the offer of a new contract to join Chelsea for £32m this summer instead.

The Blues won't play in the Champions League for the first time since 2002 next season because they finished a lowly 10th in May.

But when asked by Standard Sport if he felt it was a bit of a risk to walk away from guaranteed Champions League football, he said: "No (it's not a gamble), because for me it's a new step.

"To stay in Leicester and play in the Champions League would have been a good step, but joining Chelsea is a good step too.

"I have never played in the Champions League. But everyone knows that Chelsea are a big club and I hope I will be playing in it next year.

"Playing in the Champions League is a big dream of mine. When you are a player and have a chance to play in it, it's a good thing. But like I said, I hope to play in it next season.

"It was very difficult to leave Leicester. I spent a very good season there, but it was my chance to play for Chelsea, who are a big club. It's a new challenge and a new adventure starts for me."

Kante impressed on debut in the 3-1 win over AC Milan in Minneapolis last night when he came on as a substitute in the 50th minute.

The scoreline was 1-1 at the time and Chelsea significantly improved following his introduction.

Coach Antonio Conte changed formation from a 4-2-4 to a 4-1-4-1 when Kante entered the fray and he looked assured playing in front of the back four.

The France international, who has been compared with former Chelsea star Claude Makelele, has only been training with his new team-mates for a week and says the best is still to come.

He added: "It was my first appearance and I am pleased I won with the team. It was a good game for me and I hope we can continue in this way.

"Do I already have an understanding with the team? Yes. We have been working hard in training and I am still learning what the coach wants from me. I hope that I can do well when I have the chance to play.

"I haven't talked about Makelele with my team-mates. We just talked about what we have to do on the pitch."