Chelsea: Sheffield match gave us the best version of Mateo Kovacic

Chelsea supporters saw the best version of midfielder Mateo Kovacic in the Blues’ latest statement victory against Sheffield United.

Chelsea has been dominating its competition throughout the last two months or so. The Blues have not only looked faster and stronger than their opponents, but overall better, as well. This includes superiority on both team and individual levels. Throughout the lengthy unbeaten run, there have been a number of standout performers, and with that also sees some uninspiring or often overshadowed displays.

Mateo Kovacic has sometimes been a casualty of these brilliant performances. Due to the otherworldly shows put on by Kai Havertz, Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante and yes, even occasionally Jorginho, the Croatian has gotten to know the dugout more than any star would prefer. Kovacic has been slow coming out of the gate following a superb season a few months prior, likely for a number of reasons. Regardless of all of this, he put on a vintage performance against Sheffield United that reminded supporters of the magic he can produce in midfield.

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Kovacic looked like he hit his hypothetical rock bottom in a blue shirt when he was subbed off against Krasnodar. While the team looked comfortable in its newly revived 4-3-3 formation once he came off, he looked restless in a double pivot against the Russian side. The 26-year-old struggled to earn starts leading up to that Champions League tie and the consensus feeling when he came off was that it’d be awhile before he got another start. Shows you how much we supporters know, eh?

Playing in a more advanced role against Sheffield—similar to that of last season when he won Chelsea’s Player of the Season award—Kovacic was a game-changer. There were some flashes of brilliance the numbers won’t show, like his pressing, but this was one of the rare matches he earned a tiny spot on the scoresheet. No, he didn’t find the back of the net himself; he did notch an assist on Tammy Abraham’s opener though. If it weren’t for the veteran in midfield, the game could’ve gone much differently.

Kovacic pressed with maturity against a physical Blades side. This tenacity and hunger allowed him to drift into spaces he wouldn’t normally occupy. Further, it saw him run at defenders while possessing the ball. Although he’s not much of a threat in front of goal, Kovacic is best when the ball is at his feet. There was an aggressiveness shown by the experienced Croatian that we seldom see. Dare I say, it was Lampard-esque.

We all know that nobody compares to the gaffer during his playing days, but Kovacic was quite possibly the closest thing we’ve seen in the middle of the park at Chelsea since Lampard hung up his boots. He’s not going to turn into a chance creating and goalscoring machine like his boss, but Kovacic’s dominance and arrogance was a beautiful thing to behold.

Unfortunately, he suffered a knock around the 70th minute of the match. It is unclear how severe the injury is, but we all have our fingers crossed regardless. Kovacic is an important player to this team both on and off the pitch. When fully healthy, he’s a true asset, especially when he plays with the confidence and class he did against Sheffield.

Where do you think Kovacic fits in the Blues’ system? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!