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Kovacic admits he’s ‘feeling good’ at Chelsea and why he prefers London to Madrid

Mateo Kovacic admits he is ‘feeling good’ at Chelsea and has revealed why the midfielder prefers life in London following his summer move from Real Madrid.

The Croatian international would spend a season-long loan deal at Stamford Bridge last season before joining Chelsea on a permanent basis last summer, and after a season of adaptation to the pace of the Premier League, has begun to produce his best performances under Frank Lampard this season.

Kovacic has now opened up on his improvements in the current campaign, admitting he feels more settled with life in west London following his signing of a five-year deal and permanent switch to England.

“Maybe it is because I have signed here [permanently] so now I am more calm,” he told club magazine, Chelsea. “Because last year was a loan, it was maybe more difficult to prove myself, but this year I feel a lot better because I had one year’s adaptation and now I am feeling good.

“The guys are amazing, the staff are really good and my family is happy. It is really important to me that my family feels good and for now everything is amazing so we are enjoying everything about London and Chelsea, it’s really nice.”

The midfielder even made the unusual admission of praising the British weather, admitting his preference for the colder conditions after three years living in the heat of the Spanish capital.

“The country suits me because the weather is not so hot,” he admitted. “That’s always important because when I trained in Madrid it was a little bit difficult, always 30 degrees. It was tough sometimes to train but here the climate is amazing so I’m enjoying it a lot.

“I’m used to this weather because I lived in Austria and was raised there, and the weather is the same. For training it is amazing. Maybe for our families it’s not so good but for us players, it’s good!”

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