He impressed tonight I thought - injected energy and defensive security. He is also clearly a much better dribbler/passer than Barkley.

I reckon he should start next week, just give more balance to the midfield. He's probably a better player than the rest apart from kante.

He is clearly going to take Barkley's place. Ross has done very well but Mateo is class above him. Hope they both get to play a part. Kante and Jorginho for me are sure starters. 

The biggest difference between Ross and Kovacic is Barkley for some reason doesn't have the confidence to build the play. He is sort of satisfied to do the simple task. 

I think we are going to be very impressed by Kovacic this season. 

The left chain with Alonso Kovacic and Hazard will be the terror of all defenses of the Premier.

But also Ross Barkley is a very very good player.

Real have been very clever in loaning us this guy.

They know he is a good player but have no room to use him. If he really impresses then they know we will want him to stay. Gives them an ace to sign eden if eden refuses a new deal. Also helps lower the amount of cash they would have to pay.

Wonder if our ace is to promoted CHO...

Kovacic quoted as saying something along the lines of he wanted to come to a club that wanted him and a coach that wanted him and that’s what he’s found at Chelsea.

Along with his social media posts recently it really doesn’t sound like he has any intention on returning to Madrid.

It could also easily be putting pressure on them. He spent years on the Madrid bench waiting. If Modric leaves and he will be guaranteed starter so will be far more enticed stay at Madrid.

If Hazard is set to leave at some point we can hopefully try and use Kova to help ease the sale   

Edited August 19, 20187 yr by MANoWAR

Looks after the ball very well. Can't wait to see him play a full game for us.

I asked for a translation & got this as a reply:

he says that he is really comfortable in London, and that he enjoys playing in Chelsea and he also said that most important thing is that his team wins

If anyone can do better, please gives us a better translation

Edited August 19, 20187 yr by robdog

58 minutes ago, robdog said:

I asked for a translation & got this as a reply:

he says that he is really comfortable in London, and that he enjoys playing in Chelsea and he also said that most important thing is that his team wins

If anyone can do better, please gives us a better translation

I found a better translation from Chelsea subreddit

Q: As far as we've seen from the stands you can be pleased about the performance, can you tell us a bit more how it looks on the field in a new club, new environment, new league etc...?

A: First of all im happy about the win and that's the most important thing, it's good that the team is playing well so it's easy to adapt but i'm still out of rhytm since i've just joined the squad, but im working well and i'm improving and that's what matters.

Q:From what we've seen for this 30 minutes, not enough for a clear picture but there will be more opportunities, looks like you have took your chance and you are very useful player otherwise they wouldn't bring you here.

A: Well yeah, first of all it was important that after 3 years of inconsistency in playing time in Madrid i've got into a team that wants me and a coach that wants and trust me, that's how Chelsea happened. That's what i really need now, as i said earlier im feeling really good and i want to keep it that way.

Q: Seems that your link with Sarri is really good?

A: Well yeah, he knows me for a long time, i've watched a lot of his games, he likes to play and that's what matters imo. The squad is phenomenal with many great players that's why it wasn't so hard to adapt quick.

Q:Season won't be so easy, but Chelsea always aim for the top. How do you see it from your point of view and what's the difference between Spain and England?

A:Well, the tempo is higher, there is more space, but as i said it's not hard to adapt when you are surrounded by great players. I would thank to all fans that support me and i will make sure i payback on the pitch.

Q: Mateo good luck and i wish you many successful moments in a new club.

A: God bless.

Is it just me or does it seem like from his end, he's planning on staying here for more than just his loan season?

Hi guys, tresspasser here :D 

As you can tell by my name I dont exactly have....Chelsea's best interest at heart lol but I am Croatian and a big fan of Kovacic and want him to succeed and be Modric's successor like we all expect him to.

Now I do know some people in Mateo's circle and while its not much of a secret or a piece of inside info, in his mind he's a Chelsea player. Period. He is not going back to Madrid and also unfortunately he had no intention of going to United. He loves the city of London and while he did entertain the idea of playing for Guardiola, Chelsea is what he really wanted and pushed really hard for.  He's spoken about pretty much all of this so its not like this is anything major. He's a Chelsea player in his mind and he's staying.

 

As for him as a player, damn you guys got a good one. I think he's actually very underrated now because he spent so much time not getting consistant minutes but he's absolutely capable of being a top midfielder. You've seen his performances in a few games he played against Barcelona, right? He's capable of that constantly. Will be perhaps the best midfielder in the PL IMO. Wasnt surprised that he played well in his first game because lets face it, despite being young he is experienced playing at a high level.He would bring it vs Barcelona every time, no reason not to bring it against any other team.

3 hours ago, ManUnitedFan said:

Hi guys, tresspasser here :D 

As you can tell by my name I dont exactly have....Chelsea's best interest at heart lol but I am Croatian and a big fan of Kovacic and want him to succeed and be Modric's successor like we all expect him to.

Now I do know some people in Mateo's circle and while its not much of a secret or a piece of inside info, in his mind he's a Chelsea player. Period. He is not going back to Madrid and also unfortunately he had no intention of going to United. He loves the city of London and while he did entertain the idea of playing for Guardiola, Chelsea is what he really wanted and pushed really hard for.  He's spoken about pretty much all of this so its not like this is anything major. He's a Chelsea player in his mind and he's staying.

 

As for him as a player, damn you guys got a good one. I think he's actually very underrated now because he spent so much time not getting consistant minutes but he's absolutely capable of being a top midfielder. You've seen his performances in a few games he played against Barcelona, right? He's capable of that constantly. Will be perhaps the best midfielder in the PL IMO. Wasnt surprised that he played well in his first game because lets face it, despite being young he is experienced playing at a high level.He would bring it vs Barcelona every time, no reason not to bring it against any other team.

 

Thanks for the info!

Is there anything wrong in my desire to sign him for a long term after only 30 minutes? You can see the class from miles away. this is probably the new, white Essien not that .... number 14. 

On ‎18‎/‎08‎/‎2018 at 23:03, Ballack & Blu said:

He looks remarkably like Eden on the ball, very silky, and very quick as well, going to be a massive asset

Very excited about the damage these two could cause this season, looked bang on eachothers wavelength on Saturday.

 

I have mixed feelings about him. Obviously he looked very good when he came on but he's not our player, and playing him instead of Barkley (or RLC) could be bad for us in the long-term unless we really do intend to sign him at the end of the season. Barkley also looked good on Saturday, so if it's strictly a one season loan then I'd rather we prioritised our own players for now.

I disagree for the time being, we need to see Sarri's game at its best as early as possible so the other squad members can see what the objective is.

You need your best team to do that, this end of season without a world cup we should do better business. 

I was a little concerned that there was no buy option in the deal to get him here, but from the comments he has made, it seems like he really doesn't intend on going back. It will give madrid a bargaining tool for hazard though, but I suppose we will just have to keep our fingers crossed that hazard signs a new contract before next summer. 

A month ago, I'm sure I'm not the only one who wasn't exactly looking forward to this season, but some of the football we have been playing, and the prospect of hazard and kovacic linking up with a rejuvenated pedro, has got me feeling we can take on the world. 

Really can't wait until Sunday now, hopefully kovacic gets his first start.

Can we get these threads merged?

5 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Can we get these threads merged?

I agree. I dont know why OP had to start a second thread when the first one was perfectly fine.

 

its doing my head in. 

@coco might be able to help with the merging or know a man, lady, LGTB person than can!

That was quick...………………….

I honestly dont get the fascination with Barkley. For me he offers very little besides helping us in the Homegrown players department. Kovacevic is just on a completely different level and you could just tell by how comfortable he already looks that he is going to be absolute class for us. He makes us a much better team and our chances of finishing a top four is much higher if hes involved. Needs to be a starter as soon as possible

I have mixed feelings about him. Obviously he looked very good when he came on but he's not our player, and playing him instead of Barkley (or RLC) could be bad for us in the long-term unless we really do intend to sign him at the end of the season. Barkley also looked good on Saturday, so if it's strictly a one season loan then I'd rather we prioritised our own players for now.

Rlc and Ross are nowhere near the level of kova so why play them if it's to the detriment of the team? Both of those guys are nowhere near the level we require so we either go and sign kova or sign someone of a similar ilk in the summer!

43 minutes ago, LengmanJedi said:

Rlc and Ross are nowhere near the level of kova so why play them if it's to the detriment of the team? Both of those guys are nowhere near the level we require so we either go and sign kova or sign someone of a similar ilk in the summer!

It may be to the detriment of the team in the short term. I don't know by how much though, Kovacic has only played a cameo for us so far and Barkley is also a very good player, and RLC is on the way to becoming one. Playing Kovacic at the expense of our own players would be detrimental in the long term if he's only here until Madrid realise their mistake.

I don't believe anybody who claims to know what Kovacic intends to do after this season.