Kovacic feels at home at Chelsea after being given licence to roam by Lampard
‘Professor’ plays key role in 3-2 win over Norwich Abraham and Mount give glimpse of bright future
Necessity is often the mother of invention and Chelsea’s transfer embargo has meant manager Frank Lampard having to be creative with the squad he has inherited. Mateo Kovacic feels he has benefited from that, especially now his loan spell from Real Madrid has been turned into a permanent move.
With N’golo Kante sustaining an ankle injury in training, Kovacic was brought in by Lampard for the 3-2 win at Norwich City and given a free role in central midfield, impressing with his incisive passing, especially in the second half, and desire to break up Norwich attacks.
“He [Lampard] gives me more freedom. I can come and take the ball and go forward,” said Kovacic, who is nicknamed “the Professor” and speaks five languages. “So I feel good, I have a good connection with the coach and the team but I am now a Chelsea player so I feel better. Last year I was only on loan, this year I feel better and more confidence. It makes it more relaxed. Last year was good, not perfect but good. This year I have started well and I want to continue like that. Of course I can improve.”
Victory at Norwich was the first for Lampard as a Premier League manager and the relevance was not lost on Kovacic. The midfielder said: “It’s really important. I think we started playing very well but the results were not perfect. Today we played a good game and won, so everything was perfect.”
Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount, two players Lampard saw coming through the Blues’ youth system, were paramount in securing three points and offered a glimpse of what can come.
Abraham justified his selection with his first two Premier League goals, while Mount, who was moved to the left wing after Pedro was injured in the warm-up, scored one and made one.
To celebrate his third-minute opener, Abraham ran straight to the touchline to hug Lampard, who had chosen the 21-year-old to start ahead of Olivier Giroud. Youthful exuberance, however exciting the talent, will not always ensure success but that is where the more ex
players such as Kovacic come in and the Croatia international is convinced Abraham is not far off the finished article.
“He knows where he needs to go,” said Kovacic “As a striker he sometimes needs to come and sometimes needs to go, but he already knows what to do so I cannot teach him much because I am not a striker or a great goalscorer. He is doing really well and will improve.”
Lampard was impressed with the way his players adjusted to the late enforced changes, in particular with Mount, whom he worked with last season at Derby, where the youngster was on loan.
“I don’t want to say it’s surprised me because I’ve got real belief in him but it has made me sit up and take more notice of where he can get to in the game,” said Lampard.
“At Derby he was great. But that’s one thing. Coming to Chelsea, with the competition he’s got in midfield and the expectation level that comes with it, is another thing. He’s not a boy that wants the razzmatazz of it all, he just wants to be a top player for Chelsea and then England and I believe he can be.”
Abraham hit 26 Championship goals while on loan at Aston Villa last season, but was beaten in the scoring stakes by Finn Teemu Pukki, who continued his impressive start in the top flight, with Norwich’s second equaliser and an assist for Todd Cantwell, as he moved to five goals in three games.
While Norwich’s attacking style is thrilling for crowds, defensively they are poor and will concede many goals this season. The return from injury of Timm Klose this week could help them, even if it means Grant Hanley dropping out.