While it is still early days into the 2024/2025 Premier League season, it seems like every player at Manchester City has got off to a flyer.
Stephen Warnock hailed Erling Haaland as the Premier League’s greatest-ever finisher; a testament to how he has continues to stun viewers with his devastating displays this campaign.
Troy Deeney described Kevin De Bruyne as “unbelievable” — another player who has started the season strongly.
Stuart Pearce raved about Bernardo Silva — revealing that he is his “favourite player in the Premier League” as well.
Manchester City’s players are getting praised left, right and centre and deservedly so, as they have picked up exactly where they left off last season.
But there is one player who has quietly been one of City’s best players this campaign.
Man City’s Mateo Kovacic has started the season on fire
Mateo Kovacic is the player in question — who has started the season in style.
The £25 million man’s brilliant displays as a number six have perhaps proven the point that despite Rodri remaining very important to how City perform, a key reason behind their major struggles in his absence were due to the absence of a top-class understudy for him.
Kovacic himself did not look the part previously while Kalvin Phillips never found his feet at the Etihad Stadium.
But the Croatian international has showcased that even at 30 years of age, it is never too late for even top footballers to hone their craft.
It is not as if the former Chelsea midfielder has become incredibly athletic since the end of last season for him to be bossing proceedings in front of the back four.
But Kovacic seems to have paid close attention to Pep Guardiola’s instructions and he might have given his manager the luxury to rest Rodri far more than he has done previously.
In Manchester City’s 3-1-6 shape in build-up, the risk remains that if a team catch them on the break, the defensive midfielder in question will have an island of vacant space to cover.
However, Kovacic has managed to make such a taxing job look like child’s play, as his positioning as well as the timing of his challenges have been virtually faultless.
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Even when City do not have the ball, they seem to be defending in a 4-1-4-1 shape for the most part; another structure where many might fear that the ex-Real Madrid technician would struggle.
But Kovacic seems to be answering every question thrown at him due to his intelligence and improved understanding of the position.
Whereas in Manchester City’s 2-1 defeat to Wolves last season, the four-time Champions League winner look sorely out of his depth — especially when defending opposition counter-attacks.
Danny Murphy labelled Kovacic as a “tremendous player” and while he had a quality debut season at Manchester City, he seems to have even further improved as a player now; a recurring theme for players that sign for Pep Guardiola at the club in their second campaigns.
In possession, Kovacic is perhaps not the world-class controller that Rodri is.
However, the midfield maestro’s technique has always been elite, allowing him to break the lines, dart past opponents with ease and be able to receive and distribute the ball up against a high-press.
As a result, Kovacic has found it a seemingly effortless process to play at the base of midfield in possession without question.
Against Chelsea and West Ham United in particular, the Linz-born dribbler snuffed out several attacks, distributed the ball to the likes of Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne through his pinpoint passing and remained consistently press-resistant.
In City’s 4-1 win against Ipswich Town, Kovacic looked at ease once again before he was hooked off due to picking up a knock.
The experienced campaigner will be hoping to build on his impressive start to the campaign with more consistent displays to cement his spot in midfield once Rodri is back in the fold.
