EPL: Why Kovacic played vs Man Utd

Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic returned to action during the weekend game vs Man Utd at Stamford Bridge.

The game against the Red Devils made it the second game in a row, Kovacic played from the bench with the game ending in a 1-1 draw thanks to the effort from Jorginho and Casemiro for both clubs.

Chelsea’s manager Graham Potter during the game against Man Utd played Kovacic due to a tactical shift rather than an injury to a team-mate, with Potter saying he was pleased with the team’s reaction to that change, even if he can’t have too much complaint at the final score.

Potter in a statement via Chelsea website said: ‘The first 20 minutes I think Manchester United were better and forced us back,’ said our head coach. ‘We had to adjust a little bit there, try to get another player into the midfield and put a little bit more pressure on them. They were building their attacks too easily and driving us back.

‘The sense of the game was that we were getting overrun a little bit in the midfield, we needed an extra player in there to create a bit more pressure, to stop them building their attacks and therefore making it harder to build ours. So it was just a feeling that I had. It’s not an easy decision to make at all but the boys responded really well and they gave everything.

‘So we just had to adjust that and from that point I thought we did well in the game. We’re disappointed of course to concede late but over the course of the game I think a point’s about right for us. I don’t think we can particularly sit here and say we deserved to win.

‘We didn’t do enough to win the game I don’t think but effort-wise what the boys put in was amazing, it was fantastic from our players and I’m very proud of them for that.’