He Manchester City has come across a new signing in his particular search for triplet: Mateo Kovacic (Linz, 1994).
The ex of real Madrid was ‘missing’… due to injuries. Between an intervention in the Achilles tendon (first) and one ankle injury (after) has been 261 days ‘KO’. He had barely been able to play two games (37′) this season.
Since he was injured October 21 in Champions against Villarreal (0-2) there was no trace of the Croatian international. “I miss him a lot because of his ability to make short passes. He is magnificent one-on-one and attacking the next line,” he lamented Pep Guardiola.
I miss him a lot because of his ability to make short passes. He is magnificent one on one and attacking the next line
“The first thing is to recover your health and your life so you can play football again. To achieve continuity it takes time. While you can pick and choose minutes, he is a special player with a special mentality. “He is very brave and very good.”sighed the Manchester City coach.
“We hope he can help us in the final stretch of the season,” insisted Guardiola. No sooner said than done. Once recovered, Guardiola has thrown him into the ‘ring’: he gave him 9′ in the victory against Chelsea (0-3) and started him in the victory over Southampton (2-1) in FA Cup semi-finals.
In the tie ‘in extremis’ against Everton (3-3) he played a crucial role. He replaced Nico González in the 75′ with 2-1 against and, although he was unable to stop Merlin Röhl at 3-1, he gave City another breath in attack with his incisive conductions and the dynamism of his short passes. His was, in fact, the assistance to Erling Haaland in it 83′.
“He is considered a valuable member of the first team when he is fit,” assures ‘The Athletic’. With contract until 2028Kovacic has not yet said his last word. City are looking for the treble and the former Madrid player wants to do his bit.