Graham Potter admits Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic is not 100% fit. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Speaking ahead of the crucial Champions League quarter-final match against Real Madrid as quoted by Metro, Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has heaped praise on former Los Blancos and now Blues star Mateo Kovacic.
The Blues host Madrid on Wednesday night in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. Afterwards, the teams will lock horns again a week later at the Santiago Bernabeu in the second leg of the tie.
The two teams clashed in the Champions League during last season’s semi-finals where Tuchel’s side managed to get the better of Real Madrid managed then by Zinedine Zidane. The German manager has a completely different proposition in hand this time around as he aims to outsmart Carlo Ancelotti.
One of the key players for Thomas Tuchel has been Mateo Kovacic. The Croatian has been exceptional for the Blues ever since he joined from Real Madrid and has put in consistent performances week after week.
Speaking about the former Madrid midfielder, Thomas Tuchel was full of praise for his star. He appraised the Croatian for his application in training and gave voice to his excellent performances on the field.
“He looks like a wonderkid in training in some exercises. Today he had an outstanding training session.He is a fantastic character, a lovely guy, a humble guy, and so interested in sport. He’s so happy to train and deliver for the team. It’s a true pleasure. Even at Real Madrid, I was aware of his talent”
A case could be made for Mateo Kovacic along with N’golo Kante for being the most dependable player for Thomas Tuchel’s side. The midfield duo almost always put in 7/10 performances week after week.
The former Real Madrid ace has scored two goals and made five assists in 36 appearances this season but stats do not do justice to the Croatian’s influence on the pitch. In fact, his absence from the matchday XI makes his impact all the more clear.
The Blues have a plethora of options in midfield with Kovacic, Kante and Jorginho all top quality players. Coming up against the reputed midfield of Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, Chelsea will have to be on top of their game to beat Real Madrid tomorrow.
Chelsea’s preparation for this momentous clash has not been ideal, coming off a 4-1 defeat against Brentford in the Premier League. It remains to be seen if the result deflates the Blues or spurs them on to prove a point against the Spanish giants.
Tuchel has been faced with similar situations in the past and going by past experiences, trust the German manager to come up with a plan to beat Ancelotti’s men.
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