Pep Guardiola stood in front of the press with that calm but serious look he always carries. The cameras clicked, the microphones leaned forward, and the questions came thick and fast. Manchester City are about to begin their Champions League campaign against Napoli, but the news everyone wanted to hear was about injuries. City’s squad has been stretched thin, with key players missing at the worst possible time. But then came a piece of news that lit up the faces of the fans—a return was on the horizon. Mateo Kovacic, the Croatian midfield maestro, is finally on his way back.
For weeks, Guardiola has been forced to reshuffle his pack. He has been without Kevin De Bruyne for months, without John Stones again, and now new injuries to Rayan Aït-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, and Omar Marmoush have made things even more complicated. It feels like every time City find rhythm, another player goes down. But Pep, ever the optimist, finally delivered hope. When asked about Kovacic, he smiled lightly and said, “He will return soon.”
It might not sound like much, but those words carry weight. “Soon” is the word City fans have been waiting for since the summer, when Kovacic made the brave decision to undergo surgery on his Achilles. It was a gamble, but a necessary one. The midfielder had been carrying the injury for months, playing through pain, but eventually it was too much. The operation ruled him out of the FIFA Club World Cup and the start of the Premier League season. At 31, Kovacic knew he had to think long-term. Fix it now, so he could give everything later.
Jack Grealish once called him “unbelievable,” and he was right. Kovacic may not always grab headlines like Haaland or De Bruyne, but Guardiola knows his value. He brings balance, composure, and experience. Last season, he played 42 games, scored seven goals, and provided three assists. But those numbers don’t tell the full story. It was his ability to link defense with attack, to glide past pressure, and to keep the ball moving that made him so vital. City missed that rhythm this season.
The expectation was always that October would be his month of return. Now Guardiola has confirmed it, and suddenly October doesn’t feel far away. For City, who are juggling the Champions League, Premier League, and domestic cups, his return feels like signing a new player. A fresh, world-class option in midfield just when the battles get harder.
But injuries remain a storm over Etihad Stadium. Guardiola listed them: John Stones, another setback; Rayan Cherki, thigh problem; Omar Marmoush, knee issue; Rayan Aït-Nouri, fitness doubts. Kalvin Phillips has a heel injury, Marcus Bettinelli another unknown. It is as if every department of the squad has been touched by bad luck. Seven players unavailable at once—it is the kind of nightmare every manager fears. Yet Guardiola didn’t show panic. He rarely does. He simply reminded everyone that Kovacic’s return will ease the strain.
City fans know this script. Every season seems to bring injury crises, every campaign filled with moments when it feels like the squad will collapse. But somehow, they always find a way. It is the depth, the resilience, and Pep’s tactical genius that carries them through. And soon, Kovacic will be back in the middle of it, breaking lines, calming storms, and bringing order to chaos.
This comeback means more than just football fitness. It is about confidence. Players look around the dressing room and feel stronger when familiar warriors return. Guardiola knows that the psychological lift of Kovacic stepping back onto the training pitch will ripple through the squad. The younger players—like Cherki and Aït-Nouri—look up to him. The veterans respect him. And Pep values him.
For the Champions League tie against Napoli, Kovacic won’t be there. That’s still too soon. But in a few weeks, when City travel into the heart of the season, he will be. Imagine a midfield of De Bruyne, Rodri, and Kovacic—experience, creativity, and power blended together. That’s what Guardiola dreams of when he speaks of “soon.”
But there is also the darker side. Injuries can heal, but they can also linger. Fans still remember De Bruyne’s hamstring nightmare. They know that an Achilles surgery is not something to take lightly. Kovacic will have to be eased back in, step by step, minute by minute. Guardiola won’t rush him. But if the Croatian feels even close to his best, City will suddenly look like a team with depth again.
And what about the rivals? Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid—they will all have taken note. City limped through September with makeshift lineups, but October could be different. Haaland will have more support, De Bruyne will have his partner, and Guardiola will have another chess piece to move on his board. A team written off by some due to injuries could suddenly rise again, sharper than ever.
Mateo Kovacic has always been a fighter. From his early days at Dinamo Zagreb, through Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and now Manchester City, he has carried himself with quiet determination. He doesn’t shout, he doesn’t seek the spotlight, but when he steps on the pitch, he lets his football speak. That is why Guardiola trusts him, and that is why his return matters so much.
Right now, the headlines are about Kevin De Bruyne’s emotional return to Manchester as City face Napoli. But behind that, there is another story growing—Kovacic preparing for his comeback. In football, timing is everything, and his timing could not be better. A tough run of fixtures, an injury-hit squad, and the Champions League group stage heating up. The Croatian could be the difference between City stumbling and City soaring.
Guardiola ended the press conference by saying he cannot control injuries, only how his team reacts. But when asked specifically about Kovacic, his answer was short but full of hope: “Soon.”
For Manchester City, “soon” is not just a word—it is a promise. A promise that their midfield general will return, that balance will be restored, and that the fight for trophies will continue with renewed strength
