Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic put in an excellent display in the 4-2 win over Burnley on Saturday. The Croatian international has formed an excellent partnership with Jorginho in the absence of N’Golo Kante.
Supporters on Twitter believe the £40m they paid Real Madrid in the summer is proving to be money well spent, and there is now some debate as to what is the club’s best midfield combination:
We robbed Real Madrid again pic.twitter.com/cnTpZOghYX
— kepa (@arrizabalagy) October 27, 2019
Brings so much to the team. Criminally underrated
— Dylan (@dylann1905) October 27, 2019
We aren't missing Kante because of this guy.
— KEHINDE ADEBAYO (@KEHINDEADEBAYO2) October 27, 2019
Class player
— Jay™ (@Dchukkie) October 27, 2019
Baller
— ?Olalekan (@holarlepholly) October 27, 2019
I think having his future sorted out has really given him a different level of confidence.
— console.trace() ? (@TuzeeBanxx) October 27, 2019
Absolute quality of a player, he has everything in his locker other than goals and that will come in with time.
— MoFayz.18 (@Mofyz25) October 27, 2019
Absolute beast ?
— Matty Blues ⚽ (@blues_matty) October 27, 2019
Thank you Real Madrid for selling us Kovacic
— Sam (@AkhigbeSam) October 27, 2019
He's class! Superb
— PortHarcourt Chief (@manlikewene) October 27, 2019
Reckon he’ll be a starter when RLC and kante are back?
— Mouds ???? (@moudball) October 27, 2019
It’s a great problem for manager Frank Lampard to have. The midfield has coped very well without both Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, with the Blues now on a seven-match winning streak in all competitions.
Kovacic certainly looks more comfortable playing in a deeper role. His ability to control the ball in tight spaces and get out of trouble is an important attribute for Chelsea on the counter-attack.
Unlike previous coach Maurizio Sarri, Lampard is employing the Croatian in a role which best fits his qualities as a player.