Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante gets put in a HEADLOCK by Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri after midfielder returns to help hammer champions

CLAUDIO RANIERI welcomed N'Golo Kante back to the King Power with open arms - by playfully putting him in a HEADLOCK.

The Chelsea midfielder returned to his former stomping ground on Saturday and helped his new side run out 3-0 winners.

But before kick-off he was involved in a friendly grappling match with his old gaffer.

While walking down the tunnel onto the pitch, Kante spots the Italian happily goes to shake his hand.

Ranieri, beaming at the £29million Frenchman, shakes hands and then quickly strong-arms him into a headlock.

Much to the amusement of Chelsea boss and countryman Antonio Conte, Ranieri jokingly begins slapping Kante on the back.

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The Blues star - who signed at Stamford Bridge on a five-year deal last July - takes it all in his stride and laughs off his ex-mentor's joke.

And it was Chelsea who had the last laugh on the day as well, as Marcos Alonso and Pedro fired three past the champions to move seven points clear at the top.

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Ranieri admitted the Foxes were unable to cope with the entire unit Conte has created.

He said: "Today we made a good performance but we lost, and that is football. The changes I made were effective, if you take out the first two goals we played at same level as them.

"We didn’t lose focus, we had to stay very attentive in the box because they move so well. With Pedro, Hazard and Willian we did well but we should have closed the other players down better."

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Conte, who suffered defeat for the first time in 14 games against Tottenham the previous week, said: "It was a good performance because it isn’t easy to come here and play the champions and to win in this way.

"I’m very pleased with all of my players. We showed a great spirit we all tried to help each other with and without the ball.

"Marcos is playing very well but not just today. Today he had a great performance and helped the team a lot but I am pleased for all my players."