An opponent that is very physical and that can play football – Man City star on Newcastle challenge | OneFootball

Manchester City star Mateo Kovacic has been talking about the challenge posed by Newcastle United.

The two teams meet today at the Etihad, a 3pm kick-off.

Kovacic says that Man City have to not think about Wednesday’s match with Real Madrid, where their Champions League chances of the last 16 will be decided.

Interesting to see what Pep Guardiola will do with his team selection this afternoon but Mateo Kovacic has no doubt how tough this Premier League match will be; “I think Newcastle has a great team in general. They are playing very well this season and it is an opponent that is very physical and that can play football.”

With 14 PL matches to go, Manchester City and Newcastle United have the same number of points, exact same goal difference, only goals scored seeing Man City with the smallest of advantages over NUFC.

All to play for.

Mateo Kovacic speaking to official Manchester City media about facing Newcastle United:

“I think every week is important and defining in this league because as soon as you are not on it for two or three games, you drop in the league and that is what has happened with ourselves this season,

“Big games are coming, very important games, so we know that it will not be easy, but we are ready and just need to focus on the next game, not look too far ahead and be ready for Newcastle.

“Obviously, we started the season in very good form and it looked like that we would again be fighting for the title until the end.

“But at the moment we dropped and it is not realistic and very difficult to speak about the end of the season.

“We have to live now, be ready now and prepare well for Newcastle. Then, we can rest and look to the next game. It is just about today and tomorrow now.

“Every game is a must win for us.

“This is a team that wants to win every game and our mindset is to try to win every game.

“We know that Saturday will be a difficult game, they will have prepared the whole week for this game and they are in a good moment both physically and mentally.

“It is another tough game in the Premier League like always and we will try to rest good from [Madrid] to recover and prepare in the best way possible.

“I think Newcastle has a great team in general. They are playing very well this season and it is an opponent that is very physical and that can play football.