Nachrichten

While it might be too early to predict which team will win the Premier League title this season, Manchester City displayed their credentials as potential champions in their latest triumph against Fulham.

Manchester City were far from their best against Marco Silva’s side, relying on moments of magic from Mateo Kovacic and Jeremy Doku in the form of long-range strikes and a deflected goal to bail them out against Saturday.

Pep Guardiola would also have been disappointed to see how easily Fulham breached his side’s defence.

While Raul Gimenez’s assist for Andreas Pereira’s opening goal was otherworldly, the former Manchester United midfielder had far too much space inside City’s box to head the ball past Ederson Moraes.

Similarly, Rodrigo Muniz’s goal was not only a cheap one conceded by City but furthermore, it showcased the hosts’ struggles at seeing the game out in their latest outing at the Etihad Stadium.

Yet, Manchester City showcased that despite all their shortcomings, they find ways to win in ways most teams in the country cannot.

Gabby Agbonlahor names Mateo Kovacic in Premier League Team of the Wee after Fulham win

The same can be said about how the Sky Blues rescued a draw against Arsenal as well as how they saw out a narrow 2-1 win against Brentford.

Teams that go on to win the title in any league tend to know how to win ugly.

Furthermore, potential champions always have a player or two who decides to play out of his skin and Kovacic did just that in the sense that he scored his first-ever brace during his time in the Premier League.

The Croatian matched his highest-ever goal tally in the league during his time at Chelsea of two goals during the 2021/2022 season in a single game for City.

Kovacic revealed Pep Guardiola’s advice of Manchester City’s midfielders occupying dangerous zones in and around the box to score goals in the aftermath of the contest.

Shaka Hislop likened Kovacic to Rodri due to how he timed his run and took his second goal in particular.

Gabby Agbonlahor lauded the £25 million man for especially getting on the scoresheet twice against Fulham, something he rarely ever does and named him in his Premier League Team of the Week for talkSPORT.

Agbonlahor said: “ Kovacic, two goals in the Premier League, is not something you will say very often, but took his goal very well. What I love about Kovacic is that everyone’s taking about Rodri, yes, Rodri, one of the best midfielders in the world but Kovacic played at Real Madrid, he has played at Chelsea, he has won trophies, he’s a very good player.”

“I love how he runs with the ball, he did a lot on the weekend as well and his composure, his one-touch passing. He can settle a midfield as well, so I think Kovacic deserves it, if not, his whole performance will definitely, his two goals.”

Mateo Kovacic may have cemented his Man City starting berth

Considering Kovacic was rested against Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League and started in his second successive game as a defensive midfielder since the extent of Rodri’s injury was confirmed, it seems like he has become a guaranteed starter for Manchester City now.

The former Real Madrid midfielder’s brace would have further convinced Pep Guardiola to continue to entrust him as the man to fill in for the injured Spaniard.

If Kovacic can chip in with important goals and assists just like Rodri, Guardiola could be tempted to prioritise him in the number six position over possible alternatives like Ilkay Gundogan and Matheus Nunes.

With the in-form midfielder having been rather consistent as a defensive midfielder, he could be given a run of games to continue to prove his mettle.

It will be interesting to see whether Manchester City dip into the transfer market in January, regardless of how Kovacic fares.

As things stand, the 30-year-old will be enjoying his added sense of responsibility in the City side and he could be motivated to add to his goal tally this campaign.

Related Topics