Barcelona's Kevin-Prince Boateng hails "outstanding" Luka Jovic and Niko Kovac
Kevin-Prince Boateng may now share a dressing room with the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, but the Berlin-born Barcelona forward believes it is Eintracht Frankfurt forward Luka Jovic who “has everything.”
Boateng played alongside Jovic in 2017/18, the first year of the Sebian’s initial loan deal in Frankfurt that was made permanent last month.
Jovic managed eight goals in his maiden Bundesliga campaign, a figure that looks minuscule compared to the 17 league goals the Serb has plundered already in 2018/19.
Boateng attributes a large amount of his former teammate’s rapid development to the 21-year-old’s increasing maturity.
Watch: Luka Jovic analysed by Tifo Football
“Luka is a player who can help any top club,” Boateng told DAZN. “When I was there, he rarely played, because he lacked the necessary maturity. But you could already see his outstanding quality.
“He is both-footed, fast, good with his head and has a great technique. He has everything.”
The duo went on to lift the DFB Cup with the Frankfurters that season, beating Bayern Munich 3-1 in the final.
It is a career highlight of Boateng’s that will live long in the former Ghana international’s memory, reflecting; “Everything was just right. At home in Berlin as an outsider to beat the big Bayern - that was fantastic.”
Boateng featured in all but one of the cup rounds that season and while Jovic didn’t get on the pitch in the final, he did score the winner in Frankfurt’s 1-0 semi-final victory over Boateng’s former club Schalke.
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Leading the Eagles to cup glory was now Bayern coach Niko Kovac, another man Boateng reserves his highest praise for. He's also the man who was integral in bringing Boateng back to Germany and who the 32-year-old thanks for handing him the added responsibility that has made him a better professional.
“I'm still grateful for that today,” Boateng explained. “He used to bring me back to earth when I felt like the coolest because I'm a professional footballer.
“We understood each other immediately. Niko initially took me aside and explained to me how to behave in the professional business.
“I am glad that Niko Kovac and Fredi Bobic supported me and always spoke positively about me. Niko has given me all the freedom on the pitch, so I could inspire and play without constraints.
Watch: How Boateng helped Frankfurt stun the Bundesliga!
“He just told me to take care of the team. For example, if a teammate appeared late for training, I should address that.”
Boateng - who also lists Hertha Berlin and Borussia Dortmund as former Bundesliga employers - ended up leaving Frankfurt after one season, having achieved the aim of “shutting up the critics” in the country of his birth.
But he still keeps a keen eye on all things German football and is clearly enjoying watching Frankfurt’s romp into the top-four places in the league and UEFA Europa League semi-finals under Kovac’s replacement, Adi Hütter.
Watch: Frankfurt's ferocious front three under the tactical microscope!
He takes particular pleasure in seeing Frankfurt’s European progression, having played such a major part in the club’s qualification via their DFB Cup victory.
“It makes me proud because they play great football. I am happy to have played my part in making Frankfurt play in the Europa League,” he said.
“If I do not play myself, I watch every game. I'm just happy for the boys, they deserve that.”
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