Guardiola praises Kovacic's 'copy and paste' Rodri role in City's Fulham triumph

Pep Guardiola praised Mateo Kovacic's outstanding performance against Fulham, calling it a "copy and paste" Rodri job, as the Croatian midfielder stepped up brilliantly to lead Manchester City to a 3-2 victory.

In Short

• Kovacic's two goals led City's comeback after Pereira's opener
• Guardiola praised Kovacic for replicating Rodri's midfield control
• City secured a 3-2 win despite Fulham's late goal from Nelson

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola heaped praise on midfielder Mateo Kovacic after his brilliant display against Fulham on October 5, humorously referring to it as a "copy and paste" Rodri performance. Kovacic played a pivotal role in City's comeback victory, proving himself a crucial figure in the midfield amid concerns following Rodri's season-ending injury.

City faced an early setback when Andreas Pereira opened the scoring for Fulham, but Kovacic responded with two goals that swung the momentum in City's favour. His equaliser at the 32-minute mark was followed by a second goal early in the second half, putting City in control of the game.

"He is not a top goalscorer, but he maybe saw how many goals Rodri has scored in that position and did copy and paste. He scored two fantastic goals," Guardiola told BBC.

"They went four to five [defenders]. When they defended with five there is one man free on the edge of the box – Kovacic...The two goals were because in that position they can't defend it. Kovacic was really important. Now opponents know they can't leave him alone or he can score a goal," Guardiola added.

Kovacic not only showcased his ability to finish but also orchestrated play from the midfield, leading breakaway attacks and maintaining City's dominance. Guardiola acknowledged the Croatian's ability to step up in Rodri's absence, emphasising that Kovacic brought calmness and control to City's game when they needed it most.

With Jeremy Doku adding another goal for City, they held a comfortable lead until Fulham's Reis Nelson scored a late goal. However, it was not enough for Fulham, as City held on for a 3-2 win. Guardiola’s praise for Kovacic underlined his confidence in the midfielder to maintain City's strong performances despite the challenges caused by Rodri's absence.

This victory not only helped City maintain their position at the top of the Premier League table but also highlighted Kovacic’s growing importance within Guardiola’s squad. His ability to replicate Rodri's midfield prowess may prove essential in City's title defense as they navigate the remainder of the season without their key player.