Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic admits leaving Real Madrid was a gamble.
He admits it was a big call to leave the Bernabeu in a deal which is likely to become permanent.
But Kovacic says his strong faith still guides him at such times.
He told The Sun: “Since I was very little, I would go to church every Sunday with my family and we also prayed at home every day.
“I feel the strength of this and it gives me power when times are not so good.
“It gets me through. The church is still part of my life. I met my wife there when I was 15.
“She was my first love. It feels strange playing on a Sunday, because in Croatia it is when we would go to church. But as long as I still go a couple of times during the week it is OK."