Mateo Kovacic is at Manchester City to improve under Pep Guardiola as he looks to add to the Treble-winning squad.
Kovacic is the first through the door this summer after arriving from Chelsea for an initial £25m, and has been hailed by Txiki Begiristain for his ability to play in multiple roles. The Croatian international will be looking to make his mark on a club he believes are already the best in Europe as he joins on a four-year deal.
Asked where his best position is, Kovacic said that he prefers being on the left of midfield but added that he is happy to adapt to what Pep Guardiola is looking for. With a self-professed room for improvement, the 29-year-old is looking forward to getting to work on the training ground to see how he slots into this City side as he takes the No.8 shirt vacated by Ilkay Gundogan.
“I feel most comfortable on the left side of the midfield, but then in the end it’s always the manager who decides where you play,” he said. “I think I’m quite flexible but for sure he will tell me what he wants from me, and this is what I want to learn and to even improve my skills to be a better player.
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“I’ve played in big clubs in different countries, so it’s a huge pleasure to be at such big clubs and I’ve just learnt that day-to-day training is the most important, to be ready for each training [session] at 100%, and this is what I want to be here as well: to be the best version of myself. But I think as I said before, I have a lot of room for improvement and to learn, so this is always a big thing that I am here.
“I think City is just, at this time, the best club in Europe, and when I heard they wanted me, it’s a huge recognition for my game and a huge pleasure that such a big club wants you. As soon as I heard it, of course, to play under Pep Guardiola and with this great team, there was no doubt for me that if it is possible, I would like to be here.”
