Pep Guardiola has said that Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic was ‘exceptional’ in the first seven games of the season.
The manager was speaking ahead of today’s game with Luton Town, with City really looking to get back on track at Kenilworth Road.
City were beaten 1-0 by Aston Villa in midweek, and the club are currently in a difficult moment having not won any of their last four Premier League games.
Perhaps following the high of winning the Treble, a lull was always going to happen.
Hopefully, City can return to winning ways today, against a side many are tipping to finish dead last this season. Drop more points here, and it will be time to admit there is a real problem.
Ahead of the game, Pep gave a word about summer signing Mateo Kovacic…
Pep Guardiola says Mateo Kovacic was ‘incredible’ earlier this season
Pep was talking about embracing the challenge of getting City back on track.
He also asked whether it was an interesting period when learning about new signings and how they would react to adversity.
He said (via Hayters TV): “They behave good. Mateo, the first six or seven games he played, he was exceptional in the way he played. Really, really good.”
Kovacic did indeed start the season really well after sealing his £30 million to the Etihad Stadium from Chelsea.
The £150,000-a-week Croatia international – who has been linked with Galatasaray recently – came in for regular plaudits, but he has picked up a couple of injuries already, including one during the latest international break which has affected his momentum a bit.
City need Kovacic to rediscover early-season form
Kovacic was really good in pre-season for City and then showed his quality in early games against Burnley, Newcastle United, Sheffield United and Fulham.
But the 29-year-old has just lost a bit of momentum in recent weeks because of the injury he picked up on international duty.
That has not really been ideal for City, with John Stones having been out injured and Rodri also serving another suspension against Aston Villa.
There has been a lack of control in midfield in these past four Premier League games and Kovacic is someone that is normally quite good at getting on the ball and retaining it.
Many players in the squad need to find form again, with Kovacic being one.
