Chelsea’s Champion League secret weapon: Mateo Kovacic

Chelsea had an early press conference this week for the Champions League final, featuring both Thomas Tuchel and Mateo Kovacic. The latter was asked question after question about his time at Real Madrid. Particularly his time on the bench as Madrid won three straight Champions League finals.

It was pretty clear Kovacic was growing increasingly agitated by those questions, though he remained calm in his responses. Going into a Champions League final, the intangibles may matter more than anything. For Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic, a chip on the shoulder might be key.

It’s no secret that Kovacic’s time at Real Madrid did not go well overall. After dominating Serie A as the heart of Inter Milan’s midfield, he made the move to Madrid. While initially used often by Rafa Benitez, Zinedine Zidane didn’t have as much use for the player. He still used him plenty overall, but not nearly as much as the trusted trio of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro.

Kovacic wasn’t even on the bench for the penalty shootout victory over rivals Atletico Madrid. He made the bench in 2017 and 2018, but was an unused sub against Juventus and Liverpool. He has three Champions League winners’ medals despite not playing in those three finals.

That’s not to say he didn’t play a role in Real Madrid’s three wins. But they were cameo roles. A sub here, a start here to rest the others for different matches. Ultimately, that was the story of Kovacic’s Real Madrid career and it is why he left. It’s also why Real Madrid still largely rely on that same midfield trio from half a decade ago.

There are many things that motivate players. Half (and likely more) of being a good manager is finding the right motivations for individual players. And a chip on the shoulder? That is an extremely powerful motivator.

Kovacic was Chelsea’s player of the season last year after Frank Lampard moved him to a more transitionary role in the system. Thomas Tuchel has taken that a step further in his 3-4-3, where both central midfielders are there almost exclusively to serve transitions. Kovacic was never the most defensive or offensive player on his teams, but he excels and connecting the front to the back and vice versa. He’s the glue that can keep a team together.

He has been injured as of late and his form has dipped as a result, but he should still start this Champions League final. It isn’t Real Madrid on the other side (they’ve already been soundly dispatched) but Manchester City. That won’t matter to Kovacic. He’ll simply be playing with a chip on his shoulder. He’ll want to show the world that he is a Champions League winner. Not just on paper or by technicality, but by right.

N’Golo Kante seems a near certain to start in the final because, well, it’s N’Golo Kante and he played in (and won) a World Cup final while sick. Kovacic’s chip on his shoulder should be partnered with him and the rest of the XI filled in from there.

Let Kovacic prove himself. Let him be the glue that gets Chelsea back to the top. Unlike Zidane, let him play.