https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/
kovacic-on-his-emotional-return-to-zagreb-and-warning-his-team-mates-to
Kovacic on his emotional return to Zagreb and warning his team-mates to
expect a tough atmosphere
05 Sep 2022
Mateo Kovacic is back where it all began in his football career as Chelsea
prepare to take on his first club Dinamo Zagreb in our opening Champions
League fixture of the season.
https://i.imgur.com/TyEYVyn.jpg
Although it has been nine years since the midfielder last played here for
them, Kovacic has never forgotten his ties to Dinamo and has enjoyed his
return so far, despite being inundated with ticket requests from friends
and family wanting to be present for his reunion with the Zagreb side at
the Stadion Maksimir in the Champions League.
'It's really nice to be here,' said Kovacic, speaking to the media at
Maksimir before the Chelsea training session at the stadium on the eve of
our match against Dinamo. 'It was a really good feeling to be in Zagreb,
to see all the people that I haven't seen in a long time.
https://i.imgur.com/6hPZ2jV.jpg
'I'm really looking forward to the match tomorrow, to seeing a full
stadium. I am a Dinamo fan of course, but now I'm on the opposite side.
'My family is coming, my friends are coming. Everybody is very excited,
maybe even more excited than me, to come and watch me at Maksimir. There
was a lot of people asking for tickets but I'm glad that I have been able
to get so many tickets for them.'
The Croatian international also gave his verdict on Dinamo Zagreb's
current status after they beat Bodo/Glimt to qualify for the Champions
League group stage, as well as explaining how he has been explaining to
his fellow Blues the fierce atmosphere they can expect at Maksimir for
this match.
'Dinamo is growing from day to day. Dinamo are working phenomenally, I
know it from my own experience, they play in Europe every year with us in
the group stages. It will be a tough match tomorrow.
https://i.imgur.com/kv4jMMM.jpg
A young Kovacic in Champions League action for Dinamo Zagreb against Real
Madrid in 2011
'I know when Dinamo feels their fans are standing behind them and the
stadium is full they will play a really good game. I know that the
atmosphere tomorrow will be excellent. I know what we are expecting
tomorrow and Dinamo will be excellent.
'Everybody is asking me about Dinamo because not many of them have played
at Maksimir before. They saw Villarreal against Hajduk Split and they were
asking about the atmosphere, if it will be the same here in Zagreb. They
know how much us Croats love football and how much we cheer for our clubs.
So we know what to expect, a great Dinamo and even better fans.'
Just before Kovacic spoke to the media, Thomas Tuchel had been discussing
the chances of new signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang making his Chelsea
debut in this match, and Kovacic spoke about what he expects the striker
to bring to the team.
'He is a great player, as we know. He has scored goals everywhere so we
are looking forward to having him in our squad and he will be a big
addition for Chelsea because he's a proper striker and goalscorer, which
we've missed in the last years. We haven't had that goalscorer who scores
20 or 25 goals per season, which you need to win the title.
https://i.imgur.com/9ShR9RA.jpg
Aubameyang joined Chelsea on transfer deadline day
'So I'm looking forward to having him in our squad. He will be a big
addition, that's for sure, and he's a proven goalscorer. For him it is
normal to score goals and I hope he will do it here at Chelsea as well.'
The midfielder finished by providing an update on his return to full
fitness after missing the start of this season through injury, believing
he is gradually approaching his peak again despite a difficult build-up to
the campaign.
https://i.imgur.com/yWu2GCv.jpg
Kovacic made his first start of the season against West Ham on Saturday
after recovering from a knee injury
'I am getting better, my fitness is getting better,' he added. 'I had some
problems with my knee after playing with the national team in pre-season,
so it was a tough pre-season for me but now I am recovered and getting
better day by day. I need to get still my sharpness and fitness back but
training and games are there for it, so I'm looking forward to being
better every day.'