Manchester City’s Croatian duo have stepped up so far this season | OneFootball

Across the opening months of the 24/25 season, Manchester City has had a host of players step up. Rico Lewis and Erling Haaland are two that immediately come to mind. But City’s Croatian duo of Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol are two others that have stepped up so far this season. Their contributions have been crucial to City’s undefeated start to the season.

During Manchester City’s 3-2 win over Fulham on Saturday Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol were superb. Alongside Ederson, City’s Croatian duo put in pivotal performances to help Pep Guardiola’s side pick up a precious three points. The pair were important contributors but in different ways to City’s win.

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Mateo Kovacic scored a brace which helped Manchester City overcome Fulham after falling behind in the 26th minute. The best compliment you can give Kovacic is that his goals in the 32nd and 47th minutes of Saturday’s match were Rodri-esque. But more importantly, his overall performance was brilliant against Fulham. That display followed his strong start to the season. With Rodri out for the season, Kovacic now has a vital role to play this season. So far he has stepped up and shown he is more than capable of stepping into Rodri’s role.

Josko Gvardiol put in arguably his finest performance of the season at the Etihad. In possession, he was brilliant, as he always is. Defensively the Croatian international was superb at left-back. He rarely put a foot wrong in the face of Fulham’s quick and precise counterattacks. Gvardiol also provided a decisive block late in the game to help Manchester City keep their lead late in the game.

Manchester City’s Croatian duo have stepped up so far this season. The performances of Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic on Saturday were just further evidence of this. The pair will have a vital role to play this campaign and based on their strong starts to this season they are up for the challenge of maintaining their strong from.