Mateo Kovacic has been speaking about the coming season as a new Manchester City player – and revealed the one fixture he just cannot wait for.
The Croatian midfielder has already made a good impression in pre-season.
The 29-year-old has turned out a few times now, and looked really tidy in midfield.
He was one of the most technical players at Chelsea and so his transition shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.
Kovacic has done a few interviews now as a new City player.
What is very clear is just how excited he is about playing in a team that is so tight-knit and wins things regularly.
And Kovacic has now revealed the fixture he really can’t wait to play in.
Mateo Kovacic names the fixture he’s most looking forward to as a Man City player
You might have thought that Kovacic was most looking forward to a reunion with his old club Chelsea.
While he is probably very keen to play against his old club, that is not the game that is on his mind ahead of the new season.
Kovacic is a sucker for a derby match, and so the Croatian is absolutely relishing facing Manchester United.
He said (via mancity.com): “I can’t wait to play the Manchester derby as well, and I’m looking forward to nice moments here. The Manchester derby is a special fixture.
“I think I played in Croatia in the derby, Italy, Spain and with Chelsea as well. Now with City against United I think it’s really special because they’re two huge clubs.
“I’m really looking forward to playing that game.”
Kovacic’s answer comes as little surprise
Kovacic could have said Chelsea.
Or he could maybe have even said Liverpool, who have been City’s main competitive rivals in the Premier League over the past four years or so (barring last season).
But it is little wonder he cannot wait for the Manchester Derby the most.
It is indeed a special fixture, and a game that the whole footballing world tunes in to watch.
Hopefully if he plays in one in 2023/24, he can help City get the upper hand as is often the case these days.
