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Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany believes that “unique” midfielder Mateo Kovacic has played a “massive part” in the club’s recent upturn in form.
The Citizens have put together an eight-game unbeaten run across all competitions and Kovacic has particularly excelled in their last four fixtures, scoring two goals and providing one assist.
Kovacic was named Man of the Match after playing a starring role in Man City’s 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup semi-finals last weekend, and manager Pep Guardiola has described the midfielder’s recent form as “extraordinary”.
Asked after the game whether the 30-year-old was enjoying the best form of his Man City career, Guardiola told reporters: “Yeah, the last three or four games have been extraordinary.
“We’re lucky to have time to recover. The rhythm he plays and the way he plays, he cannot play every three days, but of course the quality that he has and the composure is extraordinary.”
McInerney agrees with Guardiola, telling Sports Mole: “When you think about Kovacic in the winter months – and this also applies to the whole team – composure wasn’t a word you’d use. He was a little bit too erratic, [but] right now he’s showing why he’s such a successful footballer.
Man City need Kovacic’s maturity, leadership and composure
“There’s a tendency to judge a player when they’re at their lowest ebb and it’s not really fair if the team’s suffering that way. We’ve all been guilty of doing that, but you have to remember where he’s come from.
“Kovacic is a multiple Champions League winner, not always a starter, but you don’t get into the squad of Inter Milan or Real Madrid or Chelsea – Chelsea’s Player of the Year (in 2019-20) – have Guardiola trying to sign you for Manchester City, and do all this without being a cracking footballer.
“I think Kovacic right now is showing a maturity and a leadership and a composure that City need. We do need that leadership. He’s 30 years old now so he’s been around an awful lot, he’s won everything there is basically.
“What I love about him is he’s always had that incredible drive forward, that electric pace where he just gets going, but he’s marrying it now with actual goal contributions and assists, while also being much more diligent defensively.
“Guardiola’s new system is really working for him, keeping three players back instead of just two in midfield. It allows everyone a little bit more security and comfort to do what they want on the ball, while also knowing they’ve got cover behind, and Kovacic is a massive part of that.
“He’s a very unique footballer in the way that he can just turn the game with his pace in the centre of the park, while also being very good at retaining possession. He’s a cracking footballer, and right now, he’s arguably our most in-form player. Maybe it’s not him, it’s his Croatian brother Josko Gvardiol, but those two – fantastic!”
There have been some tentative links of a potential summer exit from the Etihad Stadium for Kovacic, but McInerney believes that Man City will keep their No.8 as he “offers something a little bit different” to Guardiola’s midfield, while Bernardo Silva could instead be one who departs along with Kevin De Bruyne.
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Kovacic tipped to stay at Man City next season
“I think they’ll keep him, I didn’t really think he would leave if I’m being honest,” said McInerney. “You’ve got [Kevin] De Bruyne going and potentially Bernardo’s more likely to go, which sounds wild given [the relationship between] Guardiola and Bernardo Silva.
“Kovacic has shown no signs of wanting to move on and we all know Bernardo has asked for a long time to move on. I think he fancies moving closer to home, which I get. I think Kovacic probably will stay around.
“I don’t think you can strip out several players from midfield and expect it to be functioning still. I think Kovacic and [Ilkay] Gundogan will be the ones that stay. De Bruyne is obviously gone, Bernardo maybe not, we’ll see how it turns out.
“Kovacic has his place in this squad. Ultimately, he’s not going to be on an absurd amount of money – a decent fee don’t get me wrong. He can play as a six, play an eight, has that experience, he’s also used to the squad (rotation) role. He’s not going to kick up a fuss if he’s playing every other game or rotating in and out – he’s done that throughout his career to an extent.
“There’s a consistency there and a reliability for Guardiola. He understands the system that Pep reverts to when he needs a little bit of stability. I would keep Kovacic personally, especially in this form, it’d be silly not to.
“I think this form is more reminiscent of the form last season alongside Rodri, particularly when he first signed for City a year and a half ago when he was in cracking form alongside Rodri. I think we’ll keep him because he offers something a little bit different in the centre of midfield for City.”
Press play on the video at the top of this article to hear the full discussion.
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