Mateo Kovacic
Mateo, you’ve waited nine years to play against Dinamo…
It’s really nice to be here. It is a really good feeling to be in Zagreb, see the people I haven’t seen in a long time. I have only now realised how much of a long time it has been. I am looking forward to the match tomorrow in a full stadium. I am a Dinamo fan, now I am on the opposite side.
How many tickets did you get?
Enough. My family is coming here, my friends are coming. My family are very excited, maybe more excited than me. A lot of asking for tickets but I am glad.
On Josko Gvardiol
At the club, they asked me about Josko, I told them all the best. I don’t need to say anything about his football, they know what kind of player he is, and his character is excellent, his future is great. I have seen in the national team how eager he is to play, he has a great career ahead of him, and I hope that one day we will play together in the club.
How is your fitness?
I’m getting better. I had some problems with my knee after national team and in pre-season. Was a tough pre-season for me. I have recovered and am getting better day by day. I need to get my sharpness and fitness back but games and training are there for it so I’m looking forward to being better every day.
How is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looking in training?
I haven’t seen yet in training because he trained yesterday with the team. He is a great player as we know. He’s scored goals everywhere. We are looking forward to having him in the squad. He will be a big addition to Chelsea.
Is Aubameyang the player Chelsea have missed?
It’s a difficult question. I can say that it will be a big addition to us. He’s a proper striker and goal scorer, which we miss in the last years. We haven’t had a goalscorer that scores 20 or 25 goals a season which you need to obviously win the title. We are looking forward to having him in our squad, he will be a big addition that’s for sure. He’s a proven goalscorer. For him that’s normal to score goals. I hope he will do it here at Chelsea.
What do you think about Dinamo Zagreb?
Dinamo is growing day by day. The work here is phenomenal, I know that from experience. It will be difficult to play at Maksimir tomorrow, it will not be easy. I hope we will be ready.
Have you said much to your teammates about Dinamo?
They know that Croats love football and that the atmosphere in Zagreb is good. Everyone asked me what awaits us. They saw the atmosphere in Poljd during the match between Hajduk and Villarreal and they asked me if it would be the same on Tuesday. I told them that the atmosphere will be even better.
