City’s quiet man could solve Pep’s Rodri puzzle
Mateo Kovacic finally returned with 69 minutes for Croatia against Gibraltar after Achilles surgery and months on the sidelines. With Rodri’s fitness uncertain before Everton, Kovacic could step up—and if passes were coffee, Pep might soon be overdosing on extra shots of midfield energy.
The 31-year-old faces big competition from Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders, but his experience under Guardiola could yet unlock more Etihad minutes this season.
