(During the next 30 days, starting May 10th, CroatianSports will be giving “season grades” to 30 of Croatia’s most important football players: Starting XI, bench, fringe, prospects. Grades will be given on preseason expectations vs. actual season performance; not stats.)
Day 4: Mateo Kovačić
Season Grade: A-
Season Highlight:
2 goals in 2-0 victory over Turkey in Euro Qualifier
Outside of the boot volley in 3-1 triumph over Leicester
Dominant performance against Canada in the WC
Team next season:
- Stay at Chelsea (40%)
- Gundogan replacement at Man City (30%)
- Back to Inter Milan (30%)
What to improve next season:
In terms of repka performance, Kova has been improving and gaining consistency. Not to sound like a broken record, but finding that killer instinct in the box and threading that final third pass is his only weakness as a midfielder right now. He’s had a few bangers this season but if he can elevate his game to 3-5 more goals and 5-6 more assists per season, he can be borderline world class.
What the future holds:
Despite the slow season with Chelsea (where everyone is underforming), Kovačić has really started to grow into his own with the NT. He should move to a club that will respect him more and see him as an integral part to their squad so Kova’s confidence can continue to grow and reflect into on-the-pitch performances for the NT. Who knows when we’ll have a midfield as strong as our current one and we need them all in top shape to lift one of the next few tournaments (UNL/Euro/WC).
A- 😆
njegovo koristenje engleskog jezika: A+
Yeah I agree he should leave Chelsea they are self destructing. I would like to see him go back to España or maybe Italy I think he would do well there.
I would love to see kova broz and Perisic team up at inter
Definitely could bring them another deep run at CL serie A championship
Serie A is good.
Not too far from home, less injury risk, the league values technical ability over mindless running, and the teams are strong (with three teams making it to the Champions League quarterfinals).
I think Seria A, and La Liga are very underrated and I think that it is great place for some Croatian players to thrive. They value the midfield in both of these leagues, in the English Premier League they do not at all.
Brozovic’s success with Inter is a great example of this.
I was hopeful Perisic would do well with Spurs but it looks like that won’t entirely be the case, and I think it falls inline with what your saying Maminjo and you have sort of mentioned it a bit in the past. The Premier League isn’t exactly premised on skill it’s more speed goals. Which is where a lot of their grading on the websites come from, it isn’t often looking at the work ethic or what the players themselves are achieving outside of goals alone. So often times this gets missed.