科瓦契奇：漂亮的進球和鬥志、很遺憾還是沒能贏球 - 切爾西足球俱樂部 Chelsea Football Club

https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2022/01/03/
kovacic-on-his--beautiful--goal-and-an--amazing--comeback

Kovacic on his beautiful goal and an amazing comeback

03 Jan 2022


Mateo Kovacic was delighted his fantastic volley sparked a dramatic fight
back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Liverpool, but was left with
mixed feelings that we could not take all three points.


https://i.imgur.com/u4IPPTH.jpg


Despite making a bright start to the game we found ourselves 2-0 down at
Stamford Bridge in a crucial match between second and third in the Premier
League, as we were ruthlessly punished by our opponents for two moments of
indecision at the back.


However, a brilliant volley from outside the box by Kovacic and a
well-taken Christian Pulisic goal just three minutes later ensured we went
in level at the break. We had chances to win the game, but it was not to
be, leaving the Croatian international to reflect on a thrilling match
which had plenty of highlights, but ultimately left him with mixed
emotions.


'We were in a difficult moment because we were 2-0 down,' said Kovacic.
'We started the game quite well, then conceded two goals and it was
difficult to come back. I had the luck that the ball came to me and I just
shot.


https://i.imgur.com/9wDALN6.jpg
Firing his volley toward goal


'When I saw that it was going in, it was a beautiful goal, but I think we
were growing with the momentum and we scored the second goal. I think we
could have done even more but we should be happy with that point because
it was tough to come back.'


Despite being pleased to secure the draw given the circumstances after
half-an-hour, our midfielder cannot help feeling it was a missed
opportunity and a case of two points dropped rather than one earned due to
the nature of the goals we conceded, especially with the result leaving us
10 points behind leaders Manchester City in the table.


'We are happy with the comeback and the team spirit we showed, but not
happy with the two points dropped because we obviously wanted to win this
game, but it was difficult to come back after we conceded two goals like
that. They should not happen at this level, but it happened to us today
and we came back amazing.


'For me it's always two points dropped because we always want to win and
we wanted to earn the three points to get closer to City. But we showed
great character, we came back and that's what it is about. It showed our
great team spirit.


https://i.imgur.com/30DVd8b.jpg
Being congratulated by Thomas Tuchel after the game


'We started the game very good and we had a good chance with Christian, we
didn't score it, then we conceded two goals which we should not concede.
It was difficult because we conceded one, we conceded a second, and then
when you make mistakes because you are 2-0 down they have chances on the
counter-attack.


https://i.imgur.com/IkCp5EW.jpg
In the thick of the action in midfield


'We knew that we needed to be more focused, which we actually were in the
first 15 or 20 minutes. The two goals killed us, but it happened and we
showed great team spirit to come back, we scored two good goals and we had
a very good second half, just allowing some chances against us we should
not.


'We had many chances, but also they had good chances, so it was a great
game of football. I'm glad we showed such a great team spirit. We should
be happy with our good performance overall and we should continue to play
like that.'


It was also a significant moment for Kovacic's season personally, as he
completed a second successive 90 minutes of football in the space of five
days, having not previously started a Premier League game since October
after being kept out of action by injury and then Covid.


'I had some difficulties over the last two months,' admitted our No.8. 'I
think I started the season quite well, I felt very good, but then I got an
injury and when I came back I got Covid. So it was not easy but I was
working a lot to come back and gaining fitness game by game.


'Today was an important test for me because Liverpool is a high-intensity
team, so I think I coped good with that, but still there is a lot of room
for improvement for me and to gain fitness even more.'

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