Mateo Kovačić is finally on the board at Chelsea!
In Chelsea’s Champions League match against Spanish club Valencia Wednesday night, Kovačić leveled the score at 1-1 in the 41st minute with a wonderful low, right-footed strike from 20 yards out. The match would end 2-2.
Kovačić has been masterful in the Chelsea midfield the season – and although he rattles off shots on goal on a regular basis – he never hots the back of the net. Well, it finally happened against Valencia and hopefully this opens up some more confidence for him to shoot more. Kovačić is capable and currently reminds me of a younger Luka Modrić in his first season at Real Madrid. Modrić was great with the ball but never shot at net from 18+ yards; even when wide open.
If Kovačić can master his shot, Croatia will be in good shape with Vlašić and Brekalo hitting their prime in the next five years or so. Chelsea need a win against Lille on the last day of group stage next month to progress to the Champions League knockout round.
Dejan Lovren came to the rescue for Liverpool in the 65th minute Wednesday night as Liverpool hosted Napoli in CL play. Lovren headed home a corner to level the game at 1-1 after being semi-responsible for Napoli’s opener as he committed to the offside trap. As much as Liverpool supporters like to ride Lovren hard for his mistakes; he does have his moments. With the draw, reigning European champions Liverpool will go through to the knockout round with a win vs. RB Salzburg on the last day of group stage.
I have been very hard on Mateo…i take my hat off to the guy! He is playing like the player he should be.
Barisic will be a consistent and very solid player for us.
You still haven’t answered the previous questions Truth Troll. You’ve been ignoring them since the Slovakia game.
I also predict that it’s possible we could play well at the euros but we might not
Once again I have been proved right. I said all along that kovacic might eventually score a goal. In other news it rained last night in england
Barisic with another assist today
I think quietly he will become a very solid guy for us going forward
let’s hope that first goal breaks the shackles
Kovacic finally living up to the Hype! With his performances in recent weeks.
It’s about freakin’ time too! With Modric in the twilight of his career.
future of croatian football
Ive been tough on Kovacic for a long time now, but ill give praise where praise is due. For the first time in what seems like forever, he is playing with CONFIDENCE instead of trying to just blend in with the other 10 on the field. The talent is there and was never in question. Its time he grabs the bull by the horns, runs with it and susatains it. He could play a huge role with Modrics’ retirement sadly approaching.
Happy Thanksgiving to all my Croatian American homies.
Giving thanks for being Croatian AND my main man Mateo Kovačić with a class finish outside the box!
He gets his confidence going in that final third and we will have a world class #8 for the next 6-8 years.
Wow, was busy cocking a snooki. This is the first I heard of Kovacic’s goal!
Love how Lampard has made Kovacic his personal project.
Think an aggressive Kovacic might add something to our attack in games we are losing to quality opponents. He can beat ppl 1 on 1, and open up play vs team’s that aren’t bunkering.
Hoping he keeps improving. Will always give him credit for begging to get out of RM, so he can play his way onto our NT.