8 | Mateo Kovacic - 2023/24

[Phil1]

He’s a great player who on his day can get right inbetween the lines and push us forward. Today for the most part wasn’t that day.

 

[grim up north]

big fault on 1st & 3rd goal conceded.

1st goal: Should react at least when Camavinga entered half space and close the angle with Grealish.

3rd goal: Did not mark his man

You are clueless

 

[1Basti]

awful first half...much better in the 2nd but didn`t run with Valverde for their third goal..run 11,5 km (2nd most of all the players on the pitch)

 

[ChicagoBlue]

Thought he had a decent game, albeit he has a habit of getting caught on the turn.

Between him and Rodri tonight, there was about 1.5 players total, which meant using that extra man in there didn’t payoff nearly as hoped. However, against a younger, more active midfield, we more than held our own away at Real Madrid. Not many can say that!

 

[Keeper!]

Done a very decent job this season but it's clear we need to bring in some young,athletic quality players in that MF.

 

[Jonas.shaffer]

I wonder why Pep started him. He was poor in the previous two games. He was incredibly lazy on Madrid's first goal. There's a reason he wasn't starting 'big' games for his previous clubs,

 

[Keeper!]

I wonder why Pep started him. He was poor in the previous two games. He was incredibly lazy on Madrid's first goal. There's a reason he wasn't starting 'big' games for his previous clubs,

Go back and have a look at the build up to our goals, then see why he started.

 

[lightning Rodri]

I reckon he's going to be really good next season. He sometimes tries to be a bit too clever (probably a hangover from playing in a chaotic Chelsea team), when he just needs to do the simple stuff he's really good at.

Once he gets that sorted, he'll be mint

Agree with this, he'll be better next season. Right now, for all his talent on the ball, he lacks something, a certain sense of what's happening around him probably.

 

[youngbob]

He was a level below everyone else in the first half but stepped up in the second half.

 

[Crooked_rain]

He was a level below everyone else in the first half but stepped up in the second half.

Everyone?

No, Rodri was the worst player on the pitch first half, despite being the best in the world his position. Stones wasn't much better either. I think Kova was about the best out of those 3 in terms of players we use to control the midfield, but that's not saying much, none were really anywhere near their usual level.