Mateo Kovacic stepping up in Rodri’s absence for Manchester City

A big step up from the Croatian.

Transcript

00:00So, Michael, looking at Manchester City, and obviously, Rodri's injury was a huge blow

00:06for them at the time, and we have neutrals obviously saying it was massive for the title

00:10race as well, depending on how early in the season it was. How impressed have you been

00:16with Kovacic? He's come in and he's really grabbed that role by the scruff of the neck.

00:21He's been fantastic for Guardiola's side in replacement of Rodri.

00:26Yeah, it's interesting. I mean, obviously, we're talking about the Rodri injury since

00:30Arsenal, but of course, Rodri was injured at the start of the season as well, and didn't

00:34play in the first four Premier League games, and Kovacic actually came in and played defensively

00:39in those matches, and was really good. He's certainly a very different type of player

00:43to Rodri. There is no player, I don't think, who's any replacement for Rodri in world football,

00:48let alone at Man City. I think Kovacic is a bit more dynamic, he's a bit quicker on

00:52the ball, but maybe lacks the passing range and probably the physicality of Rodri. I think

01:00that defensive midfielder can be left exposed a little bit, and I think Rodri's much more

01:04suited to that. I don't think Kovacic is quite suited to that, but he's done really well.

01:09He obviously scored his two goals at the weekend, and Guardiola touched on the fact that actually

01:13he realised that the most defensive midfielder wasn't being pressed and had a bit more time

01:18in the ball, so he could have a few shots. He tends to find a solution, Guardiola, doesn't

01:22he? It obviously worked out really well, he scored two goals. It's actually the first

01:26time in his career he's ever scored two goals in a game. He's done really well this season,

01:30and I think he is a good replacement to come in for Rodri, albeit we're talking about replacing

01:37one of the best players in the world, so he's maybe not quite at the same levels. I think

01:41that the Rodri story and what the solution is, is going to dominate. Certainly I think

01:49when we come back after the international break, and even pushing into December, January

01:53months, I think it will take a long time for Guardiola to stumble upon that perfect solution.

01:59I don't think there's going to be one that this is the solution. I think it is going

02:02to be dependent for different games. He set up differently, for instance, against Newcastle,

02:06which I think he saw as a bit more of a physical side. I think he wanted City to retain possession

02:10a little bit more. I think he wasn't quite as worried about that for Fulham, so he's

02:14happy with Kovacic in the holding role of Lewis moving up, but against Newcastle he

02:19went for a double pivot at the base of midfield. It's one that's going to play out over the

02:25coming months, but it's a really interesting story. I don't think it's any exaggeration

02:31to say Guardiola finding the solution without Rodri could be ultimately what decides whether

02:36the City win the title or not. It's a huge story. It feels like I'm all I'm writing about

02:39Kovacic is doing well, but whether he is the long-term solution, I'm still not 100% sure.