Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has stated that Mateo Kovacic is set to play some role in the Blues’ Premier League clash with Arsenal tomorrow afternoon.
The 24-year-old joined the Stamford Bridge club on loan when Thibaut Courtois headed in the other direction in the other direction, however he was not named in the matchday squad for the opening day win over Huddersfield Town.
Kovacic admitted that he had not been training much before he made the move to west London and he has not been up to match fitness quite yet to make an actual full start for the Blues.
However, Sarri is hopeful that the midfielder will play some part of the big clash tomorrow evening.
“I think Mateo will be very useful for us. He’s a very technical player,” Sarri said. “In this moment, he has to work. I think he’s not ready now for 90 minutes, but maybe, tomorrow, for the first 30 or the last 30 minutes he could be used. I expect a lot from him because, for me, he’s a very great player. In my opinion, he can improve more.
“I think he can play in any of the three positions in midfield. He’s a very good offensive player, but he has improved in the defensive phase in the last two years in Madrid.”