The man wearing our number 17 shirt did his popularity no harm with two standout performances against London rivals Tottenham in the Premier League either side of Christmas, and looked likely to be a big miss for Lampard when he limped off with an injury during our FA Cup win over Liverpool in March. The shape and personnel in our midfield changed throughout the 2019/20 season, but Kovacic had a near-telepathic connection with his team-mates whoever he played alongside. In addition to his first two goals he also provided three assists, including one delightful pass to tee-up N’Golo Kante against Manchester City in late November, and he was high up the list in terms of chances created, only behind Willian and Mason Mount for Chelsea when the season was paused during lockdown. A second goal soon followed in a league loss at Everton. He also had the satisfaction of scoring his first goal for us - and his first in nearly three years - as he equalised away to Valencia with a precise 20-yarder. A regular under Frank Lampard, his combination play with Jorginho proved particularly effective, as did the driving runs from midfield that showcased his dribbling ability. Kovacic enjoyed the best form of his Chelsea career to that point during the first half of his second season at the club.
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