Mateo Kovacic rediscovered his scoring touch, helping Manchester City secure a 3-2 victory over Fulham and ending a run of two Premier League draws. Manager Pep Guardiola joked that Kovacic’s performance was a “copy and paste” of Rodri, the team’s key defensive midfielder who is out for the season due to an ACL injury.
With Rodri sidelined, Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan have formed a strong double pivot, often pushing into Fulham’s half throughout the match. The win was crucial; another draw would have marked City’s worst league run of 2024.
While Kovacic isn’t traditionally a goalscorer—having played for clubs like Dinamo Zagreb, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Chelsea—Guardiola noted that Rodri’s goal tally may have inspired him. Kovacic scored twice: the first was a deflected shot from a corner, and the second was a clean strike from the edge of the area.
Guardiola highlighted Kovacic’s importance, saying opponents can’t afford to leave him unmarked. His double brings his season total to three league goals, matching his best campaign since 2014-15.
Celebrating one of his goals by sucking his thumb, Kovacic shared, “It means a lot because my wife is pregnant, so it was great to score for the little one.”
