Big problem with Kovacic: The City manager confirmed at a Press Conference
The City manager confirmed at a press conference that Mateo Kovacic was injured during the international break and will be out for “three weeks or a month”. The Croatian had assumed the role of pivot after Rodri Hernández was injured.
While Rodri Hernandez will watch Manchester City-Tottenham from the stands at the Etihad Stadium after displaying the Ballon d’Or in front of his fans on the pitch at the Citizens ‘ home ground, Mateo Kovacic will be the man to accompany the Spanish midfielder, also off the pitch, once the referee signals the start of the match. The Croatian had assumed the role of starting pivot for the Skyblues following Rodri Hernandez’s serious knee injury at the end of September. However, the former Real Madrid player will not be able to take the place of the Spaniard against Spurs, also due to injury.
Asked at the press conference ahead of the league match whether all the players had returned fit from the international break, Pep Guardiola was as resigned as he was blunt: “No. (Mateo) Kovacic is injured. He will be out for a while, three weeks or a month or so .” Although Manchester City have recovered all their centre-backs (John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Aké) with the exception of Rúben Dias, the Sampedor native has been forced to reinvent himself, once again, in midfield following Mateo Kovacic’s injury.
The 30-year-old midfielder, who started Croatia’s last two group games in the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League, played the full 90 minutes against Scotland but had to be substituted at half-time against Portugal. What was initially set to be a mere tactical decision has ended up causing yet another headache for Pep Guardiola. Referring to youth squad player Max Alleyne, who was also injured during the November international break, the Sampedor native added: “They push players to the limit and they come back injured. That’s how it is .”
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In addition to the veteran Ilkay Gündogan, the Citizens coach has the young academy player Nico O’reilly (19 years old), whom he already lined up as a starter in the Community Shield final won this summer against Manchester United or in the first of the four consecutive defeats that Manchester City has chained, against Tottenham, in the 4th round of the Carabao Cup. German, English and, little else, and the pivot is one of the positions that the Mancunians are obliged to reinforce in the next winter transfer market.
Mateo Kovacic, who has started 12 of the 15 games played so far, will miss a key part of the season, just before the busy Christmas schedule. Until the end of December, Manchester City will have to face Tottenham, Feyenoord, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Juventus, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Everton and, Leicester City, and they will do so without their Ballon d’Or winner, Rodri Hernandez, and most likely without Mateo Kovacic.