Mateo Kovacic believes Man City can dominate Europe for years to come

Mateo Kovacic insists Man City’s first Champions League title will help Pep Guardiola’s side ‘dominate’ Europe for years to come

  • Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic believes Man City will continue to dominate
  • Kovacic joined City in the summer as a replacement for Ilkay Gundogan
  • The 29-year-old explained he is eager to learn under City boss Pep Guardiola 

New Manchester City signing Mateo Kovacic bullishly predicted that lifting a first Champions League crown means the club can dominate Europe for years to come.

The £25million midfielder, who signed from Chelsea earlier in the summer, has four European medals from his time at Stamford Bridge and Real Madrid, beating City in the 2021 final under Thomas Tuchel.

Kovacic – who wants fellow Croatian Josko Gvardiol to join him at City – brings a wealth of experience after Pep Guardiola lost captain Ilkay Gundogan on completing the Treble.

‘I think they can start to dominate,’ Kovacic said. ‘By winning the trophy you get even more confidence. Of course for me it’s just the start, if it was the end why would I have come?

‘The team is so young, so confident and playing great football so why would it be the end? It should be just the start for City. They dominated English football. In Europe as well without having the luck.

Mateo Kovacic insists Manchester City will continue to dominate in England and across Europe

Kovacic says City’s Champions League triumph last season will help them grow in confidence

‘I’m different to Ilkay. It’s a shame he’s not here anymore. I could have improved watching him because he has attributes that I’m missing – arriving in the box and scoring.’

Kovacic featured in all three of City’s pre-season friendlies during the tour of Japan and South Korea but has a battle to become a mainstay in Guardiola’s preferred starting XI.

Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva are all vying for central spots with the 29-year-old, who is aware of the transition process sometimes required for new faces at the Etihad Stadium.

‘I’m new and the team has been together a few years,’ he added. ‘For sure it will not be easy but life is about challenges. I’m here to learn the movements and be ready.

Kovacic (left) added he is being asked to play further forward as a midfielder after joining City

The ex-Chelsea star also urged that he looks back on his time at Stamford Bridge with fondness

‘As a midfield player everyone wants to be coached by him (Guardiola), to learn and improve and to see how it is, working under such an amazing manager. It’s a big part of why I came.

‘I’m feeling a bit like I’m in two positions at the moment but he wants me getting more forward and more involved in attacks. I played a little bit deeper at Chelsea.

‘Last season was not good collectively or for me at Chelsea. The club was in a transition, they decided to do new things and go in another way.

‘You have to respect that. But I’d rather look back on the great memories I have with Chelsea. I really enjoyed my time there but it’s a new page for me now.’

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