Joe Cole has claimed that Mateo Kovacic is key to Chelsea unlocking their very own Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. The 28-year-old midfielder has been central to the Blues' success in recent years, guiding the clubs to a second Champions League title, the Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the Europa League.
Kovacic, who sees his contract at Stamford Bridge expire at the end of next season, has featured 23 times for the west Londoners this season, often captaining the side. The Croatia international's impressive performances have seen him become a constant feature in the Chelsea starting lineup.
And Cole believes that Kovacic is the key to facilitating the Blues' wealth of firepower, with the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling, Kai Havertz and Joao Felix struggling to find the net on a frequent basis. Speaking on BT Sport, the former Chelsea midfielder stressed just how important the £22.3million-rated Croatian is to Graham Potter's project.
