Josko Gvardiol was surprised to learn he would start for Manchester City against Crystal Palace just hours before the match. He acknowledged he's not fully fit after a long injury layoff but praised teammate Phil Foden for his performance in the 3-0 victory.
Key points
Josko Gvardiol was surprised to start against Crystal Palace.
He learned of his starting position just hours before the match.
Gvardiol is not fully fit after a lengthy injury layoff.
Josko Gvardiol says he found out he was starting vs Crystal Palace a few hours before kick-off
Croatian admits he isn’t 100 per cent fit but insists it is “normal” after a lengthy injury lay-off
Gvardiol singles out Phil Foden for praise after the England international’s heroics in the 3-0 win
Josko Gvardiol has revealed he was surprised to find his name in Manchester City’s starting line-up for Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace.
The Croatian centre-back returned to action for Manchester City for the first time since January, when a tibial fracture sustained in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea ruled him out of the most consequential stretch of the season.
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Match Report and Player Ratings: Manchester City 3-0 Crystal Palace (Premier League)
Gvardiol: I was surprised, I didn’t expect my name
Speaking to Sky Sports after the final whistle, Gvardiol was candid about the circumstances of his return and the condition he is in after such an extended absence.
The 24-year-old made no attempt to dress up his surprise at being thrown straight into the starting lineup. “I was surprised, I didn’t expect my name in the starting XI,” he said.
“Like two, three hours before kick-off! At the end of the day, you need to be ready. I’m happy to be back, happy to be in the starting XI and we know we’ve only got three games left, so happy to be back and get minutes.”
Gvardiol was equally honest about where his fitness levels stand following four months on the sidelines. “I’m glad to be back, feeling good actually,” the former RB Leipzig man added.
“I wouldn’t say I’m at 100 percent or at my best but it’s normal. I need games, minutes, together.”
The admission that he is not yet at his best will come as no surprise given the length of his absence, but the performance itself suggested a player settling back into his rhythm quickly.
Five Things Learned Manchester City 3-0 Crystal Palace (Premier League)
Gvardiol also took the opportunity to single out Phil Foden for special praise, with the England international marking a rare start with an eye-catching pair of assists in the first-half of Wednesday’s win against the Eagles.
“We know his quality, how good he is in small spaces,” Gvardiol said of Foden. “He’s really good and I enjoy to play with him! We know he’s capable of doing these things and that’s exactly what we needed. Great assist and well done, brother!”
The warmth of Gvardiol’s words reflects the mood within a Manchester City dressing room that has rallied around Foden during a difficult second half of the season.
What does Gvardiol’s return mean for City’s run-in?
With the FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday and monumental league clashes against Bournemouth and Aston Villa to follow, the timing of Gvardiol’s return is significant.
Manchester City table lucrative contract extention till 2033 for Josko Gvardiol
His ability to play 90 minutes against Crystal Palace – albeit not yet at full capacity – gives Guardiola a genuine option in central defence for City’s final three games of the season as the Blues retain slim hopes of a domestic treble.
The bigger picture for Gvardiol personally is the contract situation that has been one of the subplots of City’s season. City have tabled a long-term extension keeping him at the Etihad Stadium until 2033, with Real Madrid‘s interest lurking in the background.
A strong finish to the season – starting with Wembley on Saturday – can only strengthen the case for the versatile defender staying put for the longer run.
