The development of Manchester City’s Rolls Royce that is Josko Gvardiol, has been one of many positives for the champions this season. The Croatian international has taken to life at Manchester City like a duck to water. He has now established himself as one of the first players picked on Pep Guardiola’s team sheet.
City’s Rolls Royce has also become one of the top left-backs in the Premier League. This has been especially true during the second half of this season. Gvardiol has played an integral role in City’s push for a fourth consecutive Premier League title. While his defensive acumen was well known when he arrived at Manchester City from RB Leipzig, his quality in possession has stood out as a key attribute in Gvardiol’s game.
It was again apparent on the weekend during Manchester City’s 5-1 win over Wolves. The Croatian international earned his team the penalty, which saw Erling Haaland open the scoring. The ability of Gvardiol to find himself in dangerous attacking positions has grown as he has become accustomed to his role in Pep Guardiola’s side. He is often an integral link in City’s possession game. With his immense technical ability, he has become a valuable weapon when City has possession. Gvardiol provides width out wide and a calmness in possession. It is an underrated aspect of Gvardiol’s game.
Speaking after City’s win over Wolves Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Josko Gvardiol. While City’s Rolls Royce has taken his game to a new level in recent weeks, Guardiola believes his strong form has been evident for months. He told the media: “I would say it’s been more than weeks (that he has been excellent). I would say it’s months already. There was a period that was so uncertain. It was not really, really good. I said before, but it’s normal in the first season, Premier League, the demanding, challenges, skills, and strengths. But we talked, we saw many of his performances, and he got it. He can play central defender, can play left, he’s just 22 years old, he’s an unbelievably lovely guy, he’s beloved like you cannot imagine for his humility and we are really, really pleased.”
The development of City’s Rolls Royce has seen him become one of the best left-backs in the Premier League. Such is his talent he has the ability to become one of the premier defenders in world football. If his first season is a starting point for Gvardiol’s City’s career, the sky is the limit to the type of player he can become at Manchester City.