Mateo Kovacic’s desire for a move away from Real Madrid appears close to fruition with Maurizio Sarri’s exciting project at Chelsea being his destination.
Zinedine Zidane’s departure has led to a summer of upheaval at Real Madrid as the delicate balance that kept the team together and the egos in check has now gone. Cristiano Ronaldo was the first to go with Juventus more than happy to bring him in.
Gareth Bale has been convinced of the merits of Julen Lopetegui’s project due to the star role he will finally be given after Ronaldo’s departure. However, Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic are both trying to force moves away for different reasons. The 32-year-old appears to be tempted by a new challenge in a different league while Kovacic wants a guaranteed first-team place with plenty of playing time.
According to Marca, Los Blancos have compromised with a loan to Chelsea for the 24-year-old. The Blues are at the start of an exciting project under Maurizio Sarri who is attempting to implement the style that made his previous club Napoli one of the best sides to watch in Europe. Partenopei didn’t win any trophies during his tenure, but they pushed Juventus all the way last season in the process setting a record for the most points for a team that failed to win Serie A.
Kovacic reportedly rejected a move to Manchester United due to it being a bad stylistic fit, so the expansive style that Sarri utilises should be more along the lines of what he wants to be involved in.
The difference between Antonio Conte’s playing style and Sarri’s is huge. Conte is pragmatic; 3-4-3 is his desired formation, because of the solidity it provided with the extra center-back as well how it allowed the two wide forwards to take advantage of the space between the opposition center-backs and full-backs. They were able to grind out wins on their way to a league title in his first season through this defensive platform.
Sarri utilises a 4-3-3 formation which prioritizes a compact shape vertically in possession regardless of the position on the pitch, so that the player in possession has more passing options than defenders around him. The emphasis is on playing out from the back and using quick vertical passages of play with intelligent runs off the ball in the middle and attacking thirds. Having players around the ball also ensures they’re able to counter-press effectively when possession is lost.
Napoli were asymmetrical in their attacking play with the majority of play coming down the left flank, and Jose Callejon was left isolated with the opposition full-back for the option of a quick switch of play. It’s unclear whether that will be replicated because Sarri was utilizing the creativity of Lorenzo Insigne and the strong association he had with Marek Hamsik. Eden Hazard does occupy that wing, though, and he is Chelsea’s best player.
Kovacic is a good fit for this system because he can replicate Hamsik’s role. Cesc Fabregas, Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are all candidates for that position, but they each have potential issues. In contrast, Kovacic has the skill set and talent to fit in seamlessly.
For Sarri’s style to be implemented successfully, the attacking play needs to be sharp with quick, accurate passing and supporting runs to exploit gaps. Kovacic’s comfort in receiving the ball in tight spaces and ability to drive into openings through his dribbling means that he can be the link between Jorginho and the forwards. He is comfortable spreading out play and circulating possession while also being able to increase the tempo when needed because of his experience at Real Madrid.
His versatility isn’t needed at Chelsea, but it’s beneficial because it means he has a wide range of attributes which allow him to quickly adjust. Sarri’s style can be hard for players to get used to, but his main issue would be building up connections with his teammates. The chemistry with Hazard would be key creatively in breaking down opponents. Hamsik became an expert at late attacking runs into the box in order to receive cutbacks in space, which is something Kovacic could replicate.
Chelsea are notorious for their results-based approach under Roman Abramovich, which has seen a high turnover of managers. Sarri’s appointment is a shift away from this into something more long-term, but he isn’t exempt from the emphasis on results. Therefore, Kovacic would be the ideal player to help bridge this gap in the short-term through his quality and wide skillset.
The Blues might not be able to sign him permanently, but the first-team and academy should be comfortable in this new style by the start of next season which is key for its long-term success and sustainability. He can help them through a tough transition without sacrificing results.