- The Manchester City midfielder has been watching videos to improve his positioning
- Mateo Kovacic will occasionally cover Rodri’s midfield next season
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Mateo Kovacic is studying video to help curb his attacking instincts as Manchester City face another title defence knowing that finding cover for the ever-present Rodri is imperative.
The Spanish midfielder, who will return from a post-Euro break in the coming days, admitted twice last season that he had played too often and without rest.
Pep Guardiola has been reluctant to rotate Rodri’s position, particularly considering the City fulcrum has lost just once in his last 75 games for the club and is unbeaten in 50 Premier League matches.
But with City rumoured to not be looking for another midfielder in the transfer market, players like Kovacic will have to carry the load in uncharted territory, starting in Saturday’s Community Shield against Manchester United.
“Positioning, staying, covering, not getting caught by the ball, is something I have to improve,” Kovacic said.
Mateo Kovacic (left) studies videos to help him curb his attacking instincts as he prepares to cover for Rodri (right)
Pep Guardiola has been reluctant to rotate Rodri’s defensive midfield position
Kovacic (right) explained that he and Guardiola (left) have been watching videos together to help improve their defensive positioning.
‘What is asked of the number 6 is to maintain the position, stay there and not get too involved in going everywhere, which is sometimes difficult for a guy who is used to going.
‘The coach obviously explains it and we are watching it on video so we know what we have to do.
“I like it when I have support because I haven’t played alone that much there. I think it’s harder because you have to cover the space better because you’re alone, you’re not in a pair.”
Kovacic is expected to form part of the midfield at Wembley. The Croatian’s uncharacteristically poor display as the sole No6 during a defeat to Wolves last September (which Rodri missed through suspension) put the brakes on Guardiola’s idea of selecting Kovacic alone.
Kovacic is expected to feature in midfield for Manchester City’s clash against Manchester United at Wembley this weekend.
The 30-year-old impressed alongside Rodri down the stretch as City chased down Arsenal and has now adapted to Guardiola’s ethos, potentially reopening the possibility of him operating alone at the base of midfield.
“The start was tough,” Kovacic added. “There were some setbacks. It’s not easy to achieve everything the coach asks of you so quickly. Once you learn, you see that everything makes a lot of sense.”