Mateo Kovacic says he's 'happy and at home' at Inter, and discusses his new role as a playmaker and his need to improve.
The Croatian, who started for Inter as a young promise, is now an experienced Serie A midfielder and is looking to affirm himself in Roberto Mancini's Biscione in the coming season.
“At Inter I'm happy as I am at home,” he told Il Corriere dello Sport. “That's why I don't like it when people talk of the transfer market, of teams that are after me, of negotiations and other things of this kind.
Mateo Kovacic says he's 'happy and at home' at Inter, and discusses his new role as a playmaker and his need to improve.
The Croatian, who started for Inter as a young promise, is now an experienced Serie A midfielder and is looking to affirm himself in Roberto Mancini's Biscione in the coming season.
“At Inter I'm happy as I am at home,” he told Il Corriere dello Sport. “That's why I don't like it when people talk of the transfer market, of teams that are after me, of negotiations and other things of this kind.
“I'm happy and I want to stay here.
Mancini has been recently giving him the role of playmaker.
“That's my role. I fit in perfectly in that position, and if you'll recall when I came to Inter under [Coach Andrea] Stramaccioni I was playing in that role.
“I've been used in other parts of the pitch too, but I may just be able to give my best in front of the defence.
“I feel that this role is mine, as if it had been made for me.”
The 21-year-old was then asked what aspects of his game needed to be developed.
“I must improve from a tactical point of view and in the defensive phase.
“I've heard some people say that I'm very weak in interceptions, but I always give my best.
With Juventus shorn of Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez, Kovacic was asked whether Inter now would be able to challenge them for the Scudetto.
“No doubt three important players have left, but this is not the moment for us to look at Juve or to talk about them,as they have won four Scudetti in a row.
“I believe that at the moment Juventus are ahead of us and we must do what we can to fill up this gap.
“We must start from the understanding that we are strong, and that we must do better than we did over the last two seasons.”