Manchester City interim boss Juanma Lillo lavished praise on to Mateo Kovacic ahead of his side’s upcoming clash against Sheffield United.
As quoted by City’s official website, the Spaniard gave his two cents on the Croatian international’s start to life at the Etihad Stadium.
It’s safe to say that Juanma Lillo has been unsurprised by how well Mateo Kovacic has fared so far at Manchester City.
Juanma Lillo raves about ‘adaptable’ Mateo Kovacic
Branded as an ‘exceptional player’ by Pep Guardiola, the 29-year-old has formed a brilliant double pivot with Rodri.
Kovacic has been untouchable on the ball in deeper areas, showcasing his technical excellence while even defensively, he has put a shift in.
Juanma Lillo has lauded Mateo Kovacic for how well he has adapted during his start to life in a Manchester City shirt.
MORE MAN CITY STORIES
“I can’t really talk about a player in isolation. Nevertheless, I don’t think we were going to be surprised that players from the Balkans have no difficulties adapting. They [tend to] adapt rather quickly.”
“Mateo is a very singular player which helps him and on the personal side of things he’s very adaptable. It also happened at Real Madrid, where he was happy, so I hear from my contacts. Everyone spoke very highly of him.”
Mateo Kovacic was always destined to thrive under Pep Guardiola
It comes as no surprise to see Juanma Lillo impressed by Manchester City new-boy Mateo Kovacic.
As far as predicting how the summer signings would perform at their various clubs this season, the three-time Champions League winner seemed a safe bet to bank on at City.
Technically, Kovacic is simply one of the best players in the world and the embodiment of a classic No.8, which makes him a natural fit under Guardiola.
While out of possession, the former Chelsea midfielder is an expert tackler and can cover a significant enough of ground.
Just all in all, Mateo Kovacic fits the profile of midfielder that has usually been successful under Pep Guardiola and unsurprisingly, he has become a mainstay since day one.