Maurizio Sarri was all praises for his midfielder who starred against Arsenal on Saturday.
The Italian tactician was ‘very happy’ with Mateo Kovacic’s performance against the Gunners. Despite appearing as a substitute, Kovacic showcased glimpses of his talents in front of the home fans. Having arrived on loan from Real Madrid on deadline, the Croatian was praised by Sarri.
The 24-year-old came on as a sub but helped his side take control of the fixture. The game was tied 2-2 when Sarri introduced Hazard and Kovacic and the Belgian assisted Marcos Alonso for the winning goal. Sarri was ecstatic after the game, delighted by the contribution of his super subs.
Sarri Hails Kovacic Impact after Arsenal Win
Mateo Kovacic completed 100% of his 43 attempted passes against Arsenal. Speaking to Chelsea TV about the club’s summer acquisition Sarri said,”I am really very happy. But in my opinion, in this moment Kovacic, and Hazard are not able to play for 90 minutes. So I thought that it was better 25-30 minutes when the intensity of the game is going down, and Hazard has done two assists in two matches. So I am very happy, also because I think that Kovacic can improve a lot here.
Having made his home debut for the Blues, Kovacic was pleased after the win. He said,”First of all I’m happy about the win and that’s the most important thing, it’s good that the team is playing well so it’s easy to adapt.
https://twitter.com/Mateo_Kova23/status/1030905760459501569
“But I’m still out of rhythm since I’ve just joined the squad, but I’m working well and I’m improving and that’s what matters.’ When quizzed about his first taste of the Premier League, Kovacic added: ‘Well, the tempo is higher, there is more space, but as I said it’s not hard to adapt when you are surrounded by great players. I would thank to all fans that support me and I will make sure I payback on the pitch.”
Chelsea returns to action next week against Newcastle. The Blues currently sit pretty on the second position in the table after two games.
Author’s Take:
Kovacic’s move to Chelsea was bound to be a success. He is one of the best midfielders in the world currently and will progress further under Sarri. Playing alongside the likes of Jorginho and Kante, the 24-year-old Croat will surely become a more complete player.
