He was expected to play in the central positions, however, the 21-year-old has been largely operated as a left-back so far this season.
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Despite winning the treble last season, Manchester City had a relatively busy summer transfer window. Few of their key players left the club, while City also signed some important players over the course of the window. One of the most notable purchases was the acquisition of young centre-back Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig. The left-footed defender had already made a name for himself before arriving at the Etihad Stadium.
Josko Gvardiol was an important part of the German club and was also a vital player for his national team Croatia. This meant the defender was not going to arrive for cheap and Manchester City eventually signed him for big money. He was expected to play in the central positions, however, the 21-year-old has been largely operated as a left-back so far this season. Hence, Pep Guardiola was asked what does he think is Gvardiol’s best position.
“Yeah of course he can play as a central defender, but when we make build-ups with three, he can go in the middle. With Nathan and Josko on the left as a build-up, he is like a central defender. The position with three centre-backs is the same. In the past I discovered him against Leipzig, playing two or three years ago at full-back. He was really good,” Guardiola, quoted on the club’s website, said ahead of their Champions League fixture against RB Leipzig.
The Manchester City manager then went on to heap praise on the young defender. Guardiola is pleased with how Gvardiol has settled into the new surroundings. “I don’t have more than incredible words for him, first how he’s settled, which has been fantastic. He is an incredible person, like Mateo (Kovacic), and all the new players this season have been top. Maybe it’s not easy at the beginning to change one league to another but he’s played at a high level. Sometimes they move because they don’t play, but he’s so important. Nathan can’t play every three days. We know that, so it’s so important (to have him) and the game in Leipzig was, he unbelievable, I reviewed it yesterday,” he stated.
Despite Gvardiol already establishing him as an important player at the Etihad Stadium, the defender feels that he is adapting and learning everyday as much as possible. “I’m still adapting now, It’s a process. Of course it takes time. I wasn’t there with them in pre-season, I missed a lot but it is what it is. Each day I’m trying to learn as much as I can to be ready for every coming game. Hopefully in January we’ll have some time to work on my positioning in the pitch. Every game is a new challenge. Especially because it’s my first season and I’m looking forward to every game. There is lots of rotation from Pep’s side, but for me it’s good because I’m still young,” he stated.
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