Pep Guardiola praised Mateo Kovacic after his double against Fulham (Martin Rickett/PA) (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was brimming with pride as Mateo Kovacic stepped up to the plate, netting a pair of critical goals which turned the tide in City’s thrilling 3-2 Premier League triumph over Fulham. With Rodri sidelined through injury, Kovacic seized his moment in midfield and found the back of the net on both sides of the interval at the Etihad Stadium showdown on Saturday.
In the absence of key player Rodri for the remainder of the season, Kovacic has emerged as an unforeseen asset. Reflecting on the Croat’s impact, Guardiola admitted: “I’m very happy he scored two goals. He’s not a guy who scores goals.”
Guardiola further mused that Kovacic might have drawn inspiration from Rodri, stating: “Maybe he saw Rodri, the goals he’s scored in that position.”
He pinpointed Kovacic’s freedom in the face of a five-man defence, saying, “When they defend with five at the back there is one man free in the 18-yard box and that is Kovacic.”
The manager praised the midfielder’s performance, arguing the double strike came because: “The two goals is because they cannot defend that position. The first goal was brilliant and the second one as well.”
Marco Silva felt his side deserved something from the game (Martin Rickett/PA) (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
Recognising Kovacic’s newfound attention among opponents, Guardiola warned: “Kova was really important but now the opponents know they cannot leave him alone, otherwise he can score a goal.”
Kovacic himself, meanwhile, savoured a personal victory as he dedicated his scoring feat to his expectant wife during his chat with the BBC: “It means a lot because my wife is pregnant, so it was great to get some goals for the little one.”
He humbly placed team success above personal glory by asserting: “It’s nice to score but the most important thing is the team and that we won. It is never easy to play in the Premier League and today we showed great character. It was a good game for us.”
City had a narrow escape as Fulham’s Adama Traore squandered several opportunities, but Jeremy Doku sealed the win was sealed with a breathtaking strike from Jeremy Doku, prior to a late consolation from Rodrigo Muniz.
Guardiola remarked: “My feeling is the game was well played but what chances they had, especially with Adama he is unstoppable that guy, it’s impossible to control him we were a little bit uh-uh.”
“It was a tough game but we knew it. They played really good. Marco (Silva) has been there many years and they are getting better.”
Fulham manager Silva believed his team were unlucky not to gain anything from the match.
He stated: “Of course we have to be really unhappy with the result. The players executed the plan really well, the performance was an excellent one, but looking at the chances we created and comparing with City, we deserved more from the game. But that is football.”
“We have to be really proud, we scored two goals here and we had four clear chances to score (more), one on one with Ederson.”
That is not easy to achieve and we did it. It gives us the feeling we are in the right direction and growing.
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Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1957808/pep-guardiola-pinpoints-moment-mateo-kovacic-took-leaf-out-rodri-s-book-man-city