Alan Shearer heavily criticized Mateo Kovacic, the £150,000-a-week Manchester City player, following their 2-1 loss to Wolves.
Despite being labeled an “exceptional player” by Pep Guardiola, Kovacic’s performance was subpar in the absence of Rodri, his usual position.
During BBC Match of the Day, Shearer voiced his disappointment in Kovacic, emphasizing how he lost possession numerous times during the match.
As a defensive midfielder in this game, Kovacic struggled and had one of his worst performances for the club.
Shearer highlighted that Kovacic was moved to fill Rodri’s position due to the latter’s suspension. Unfortunately, this change didn’t work in Manchester City’s favor, as Kovacic faced challenges adapting to the defensive midfield role, leading to frequent loss of possession.
The football expert pointed out that facing a team like Manchester City requires near-perfection, and Kovacic’s performance fell short of that standard.
Despite Manchester City’s inherent luck, Shearer believed Kovacic’s struggles were a significant factor in their loss against Wolves.
Kovacic’s passing game was lackluster, often overshooting the ball, especially in attempts to find Erling Haaland.
Defensively, his and his teammates’ sloppy passing created openings for mistakes, compounded by Kovacic’s inability to cover ground as effectively as Rodri, leaving the team vulnerable to breakaways.
In summary, Kovacic’s performance in the match against Wolves was subpar, with Shearer pointing out his difficulties adapting to a different position.
While acknowledging the unfairness of harsh criticism due to the change in position, Shearer emphasized the significant impact Kovacic’s performance had on Manchester City’s loss.
