It’s no surprise that £77million Josko Gvardiol is playing a big part in Manchester City’s title quest. But the manner in which he contributed is certainly unexpected.
The 22-year-old, a natural central defender, had gone 32 matches without scoring before his superb goal against Real Madrid last month. He now has five goals in seven games.
Tuesday May 14 at 7 p.m.
Kick-off at 8:00 p.m.
A player best known for his exceptional defensive qualities demonstrates offensive qualities to match a reinvented left-back that City’s opponents struggle to contain.
The scale of its threat is reflected in the variety of its objectives.
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Watch highlights of Man City’s 4-0 win over Fulham
Gvardiol can strike from distance, as he did against Luton as well as against Real Madrid. He can score from set pieces, as he did against Nottingham Forest and for his second against Fulham on Saturday.
He can even dance past defenders and finish like a seasoned striker, as he did for his sensational debut goal at Craven Cottage.
Pep Guardiola has helped bring these qualities to the fore, giving City a lethal new weapon at this crucial time of the season. Since their goalless draw at home to Arsenal at the end of March, they have won seven consecutive matches by an aggregate score of 28-5.
For context, that’s more goals scored in seven Premier League matches than in their previous 15. They hounded Arsenal and ate away at their superior goal difference. Gvardiol, their defender turned attacker, embodies this apparent change in mentality.
Josko Gvardiol celebrates after scoring against Fulham
The Croatian international arrived at the Etihad Stadium as a central defender but the left-back position is not entirely new to him. Actually, it was used in Dinamo Zagreb’s youth academy there. Former RB Leipzig boss Jesse Marsch also deployed him there occasionally.
But after a final season in Germany in which he played exclusively as a centre-back, it was understandable that he initially seemed uncomfortable when handed the role.
Indeed, if it isn’t demanding enough to adapt to a different position in a new country, there is the added pressure of doing so in a Guardiola team, with its many tactical complexities.
“He arrived and at certain times he was confused,” Guardiola admitted recently. “He lost a lot of balls. Every time he had the ball, he wanted to do exceptional things.”
Gvardiol was tasked with simplifying his passing game and gradually added another essential ingredient. “Life is about confidence,” Guardiola added after the Fulham match.
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Josko Gvardiol missed penalty opportunity against Fulham in team interest despite scoring hat-trick
“Coming into the Premier League for the first season when you’re 21, I would say it’s not easy to deal with and at the start he struggled a bit.
“He comes to the team that won the treble and at the beginning he was a little shy, a little: ‘I don’t want to ruin their whole structure.’ It’s a matter of time. He’s been here for many years. He’s proving to himself that he can do it and play with us.
But Gvardiol’s recent stellar performances aren’t just down to increased confidence. Guardiola’s tactical adjustments also played an important role.
In the first half of the season, Gvardiol most often played behind Jack Grealish or Jeremy Doku, whose width on the left flank was used to help stretch City’s opponents.
Their presence limited Gvardiol’s ability to get into dangerous attacking positions, but that has changed dramatically since his return from a period of absence in late March.
Josko Gvardiol plays higher and with more space on the left
Since then, Phil Foden has been the one deployed as City’s left striker in every Premier League match, with the exception of the win against Aston Villa. But its mission is very different. Rather than maintaining width on that side, the 23-year-old is instructed to drift towards the center.
This was a significant tactical change that impacted the team on two fronts. Firstly, it allowed City to overload their opponents centrally, placing Foden much closer to Kevin De Bruyne. Second, it gave Gvardiol the freedom of the left flank.
As opposition defenders are sucked onto the pitch by Foden’s movement, City ensure their left-back has space as well as freedom and the stats underline the threat he poses.
Gvardiol, now higher up the pitch, makes almost twice as many touches in the opponent’s area. He makes more passes in the box, creates more chances and, above all, gets more shots.
Josko Gvardiol’s offensive threat transforms
His outstanding first goal against Fulham, when he darted upfield and exchanged passes with De Bruyne before beating Bernd Leno with a composed finish, showed that he is even encouraged to bring players on, sometimes operating almost like a winger.
Of course, the quality of Gvardiol is a major factor in all of this.
He is able to flourish in this role because he is very good technically and physically. The fact that Guardiola has used him at left-back since the very start of the season suggests that unlocking this attacking potential was always part of the plan.
But it’s also just the latest example of the manager’s unrivaled ability to adjust his squad mid-season, giving opponents something new to fear and giving City fresh momentum as they chase even more silverware with their usual relentlessness.
Few would have predicted that Gvardiol would lead the charge. But a player who has scored as many goals in the last five weeks as in the previous three years relishes the responsibility. Tottenham, meanwhile, will be scratching their heads at the thought of stopping him.
Watch Tottenham vs Man City live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event from 7pm on Tuesday; kick-off at 8 p.m.
