As the Chelsea boss ranks his team, he became a quick fan of the Croatian ace
Thomas Tuchel has already determined that midfielder Mateo Kovacic will be one of his favorite players at Chelsea.
After Kovacic defeated Newcastle in a 2-0 win on Monday, the coach praised a player who, at the age of 26, already has extensive experience in important games, with spells at Inter Milan and Real Madrid before joining the Blues.
The Croatian work rate made a particularly significant impression on his new boss.
What did Tuchel say about Kovacic?
“I love him,” Tuchel told the 5th Stand. “You can wake him up at 3 am and he will be ready to train in Cobham at 3:15 am.”
What did Kovacic do against Newcastle?
Kovacic completed 95.6 percent of his 91 passing attempts, including all four long ball attempts and his only pass. He also led the Blues with eight successful dribbles and covered 10.21 km of space.
His combination of vision, skill with the ball and energy is what can make him so good when he is in top form.
What’s next for Kovacic?
Kovacic appears to be a constant presence on the Chelsea team for the rest of the year, while the club struggles to finish in the top four. A star appearance for Croatia at this summer’s Euro awaits after the campaign.