Mateo Kovačić Enjoying New Role at City

Premier LeagueManchester City
Subhadeep Roy
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Mateo Kovačić has an enviable CV as a footballer. The 30-year-old Croat has already played for clubs like Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City. He has also won the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid and Chelsea and the Premier League with Manchester City.

However, he was primarily used as a fringe player by the Cityzens last season. With the abundance of resources Pep Guardiola’s men have in their midfield, Kovačić found it difficult to break into the playing XI and was mainly used as a substitute.

Rodri’s Injury Paves Way for Kovačić

Things have started in a different way for the Cityzens this season. Rodri suffered a serious knee-injury against Arsenal last month, which has potentially sent him out of action for the remainder of the season. Harsh as it may sound, Rodri’s injury has opened the door for Kovačić, as the latter has been starting as the holding midfielder for the Cityzens in their last few matches.
As things turned out, the Croat also managed to utilize the opportunity to a great extent by scoring a brace against Fulham in his team’s 3-2 win last weekend.
He scored both goals with shots from the edge of the opposition penalty box, thereby proving his versatility as a midfielder. He now has three goals this season, which is the same as his tally in 46 appearances last term. Kovačić is not a typical defensive midfielder like Rodri, but his ability to adjust his game should continue to be useful for the Cityzens.
With each of Rico Lewis and John Stones having the ability to play as an inverted full-back, Kovačić should continue to have company as a holding midfielder. He should also have the freedom to attack for the majority of the time, as the Cityzens almost always dominate ball-possession.

He will, however, have to be cautious while dealing with the counter-attacks of the opposition and should track back in time to thwart their moves. He is not the fastest player around and hence, will have to make up for it with the help of astute positioning.

Manchester City has a Few Matches Ahead

The Cityzens will take on Wolverhampton Wanderers, Southampton and AFC Bournemouth in their next three Premier League matches. Each of those three matches should prove to be relatively easy ones for the English champions.

However, the clash with Tottenham Hotspur at EFL Cup in between should prove to be a more challenging fixture for them. Tottenham is a dangerous team capable of playing entertaining football and should be able to stretch the Cityzens.

With Kevin de Bruyne likely to make a return to action soon, Manchester City is likely to be bolstered. However, Kovačić’s importance to the team is likely to remain paramount in the upcoming matches. If Guardiola’s men are to achieve a monumental feat of winning five Premier League titles in a row, the Croat will have to play a key role in it. It remains to be seen whether he is able to help his team to further glory.

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