Mateo Kovačić is FINALLY back in action after dealing with a hamstring injury and COVID-19 that kept him sidelined for almost two months. Before sustaining his injury, Kovačić had the second most assists in the Premier League and was a huge reason why Chelsea sat in first place in England’s top flight. Kovačić was also averaging a fantastic 7.54 SofaScore rating in the Premier League, the third highest in England until mid-December.
However, Chelsea’s situation took a turn for the worst once Kovačić was placed on the injury list in late October.
According to WhoScored.com, Chelsea’s win ratio in the Premier League is an unimpressive 40% when Kovačić is missing from the starting XI. On the other hand, Chelsea have won 87.5% of their Premier League matches when Kovačić is starting. This stat alone proves how valuable ‘Kova’ is to Chelsea’s squad, the reigning Champions League winners. During Kovačić’s absence, Chelsea were unable to beat Wolverhampton, Everton, West Ham, Manchester United, Burnley, and Zenit St. Petersburg. Besides Manchester United, Chelsea should have won all of these matches. Despite fielding other “stars” such as Jorginho, N’Golo Kanté, and Mason Mount, Chelsea’s success is heavily dependent on the presence of Mateo Kovačić.
Mateo Kovačić is also SEVERELY underrated by European media and journalists. In 2021, Kovačić (7.24) averaged a higher SofaScore rating than both Jorginho (7.14) and N’Golo Kanté (7.00), his two midfield companions on Chelsea’s roster. Despite this success, Jorginho and Kanté finished in the top 5 of the 2021 Balon d’ Or rankings, while Kovačić failed to crack the top 30. When will he finally earn the credit he deserves?
A little less than two years ago, we all had our doubts about Kovačić’s career. He lacked consistency, had trouble progressing the ball, and was a fringe player for Chelsea. In the last two seasons, he has silenced his critics and proved why he should always be mentioned while debating the ‘best midfielders in the Premier League’. Kovačić is only 27 years old, still growing as a player, and is already a solidified starter for the Vatreni – in a midfield pool that consists of Luka Modrić, Marcelo Brozović, Lovro Majer, Mario Pašalić, and many more fantastic talents.
https://youtu.be/-G5wazCwDsU
Vlašić needed this one.
I love the depth he provides us.
He sure did. It was basically a tap in, but sometimes any kind of goal is all it takes to get out of a funk.
I love majer. But for me vlasic is still first choice. He was our best player in euro qualifying, after modric. Form is temporary, class is permanent. Not on the right though. As a 10 only
https://youtu.be/-G5wazCwDsU
I think I just read that Vlasic scored for West Ham today !!?
https://sempremilan.com/rebic-return-imminent-milan-happy
Need this dude for UNL
The attached link will explain how it can come to fruition:
https://sempremilan.com/croatia-rebic-snub-team-rant
It would be nice to cover this. Croatian footballer Marin Cacic tragically dies aged 23 following collapse in training and 2 other players all vaxxed.
He was so overhyped and such a mediocre midfielder for so long…but he is finally paying dividends now.
Love kovacic, great at linking play between defense and attack, but needs to become more comfortable in the attacking phase. Until he can add 5-7 goals a season, he will continue to be under-appreciated and overlooked
TOOOOOOOOOO …. Mateo !!!
@ Cro 14
Thanks for this piece.
Super Nova Kova is the goods.
Tuchel knows what’s up.
Kovačić has been playing well for the last two seasons.
That set up was a signature slalom run and laid it on a plate for his winger.
Kovačić makes me believe we can take it all at Qatar.
He can compliment Modrić or spell him.
I watch Chelsea every match he plays for them.
He is an impact every time.
Funny how he is underrated and both Kante and Jorginho are overrated.
It’s like a zero sum to not be recognized.
Throw in the shadow that is Luka Modrić and things get chilly really quick.
We will see the best of Kovačić for the next 6 years.
He will be the real bridge during the post Modrić phase.
I’d like to see Kovačić lead us through the UNL.
I am one of those that doubted him for a time
Let’s face it, I don’t believe anyone has had as many chances with the repka then he
He had so much promise in Inter and obviously showed bouts of great play in Spain
I’m glad he is playing so well, bummer about the injury but he is back now
Lets hope he can step up into superstar level and help us make a deep run in Qatar
When you Have one of the top premier league Mids not a guaranteed starter for your national team… you have midfield depth
Please a striker and keeper step up and we will have something special friends
Kovacic was the best chelsea player in the second half by a mile this weekend. Every time Chelsea bypassed him in the midfield they would lose possession. He should have had an assist as well but keeper made a solid save.
yes he looked excellent…dispossesing the brothers who dared try taking him on…and then made a great set up to someone who had a point blank chance that the keeper made a great save on….
He was definitely gassed though but understandable since he hasn’t played in so long.
I wasn’t aware Aston Villa had a set of brothers playing in their midfield.
Traore tried taking him on out by the touchline twice….I never said anything about midfielders….
Oohhh I see. Your username fits your attempt at racism very well. That’s what I get for always assuming the best, I thought there was actual brothers on that team but your just meant black people. Like I said it’s very fitting. It’s people like you that are what’s wrong with the world not Trudeau or Biden. Poor attempt at racist humor by a fake catholic like yourself.
Not liking Trudeau and Biden makes me racist? lol…give your head a shake…lol
What exactly is wrong in North America is far left anti God, anti family, anti Catholic leftists like low iq corrupt and racist (blackface trudeau and “if you ain’t black” biden) and their blind followers like you…
Am Catholic 100%. Let me guess you are an atheist or scientologist or muslim maybe? lol
Get lost son, let the adults talk footie here.
#MAGA
#MCGA
No you calling black people “brothers” makes you racist. The username is just very fitting.