Josko Gvardiol has tried to galvanise his Manchester City teammates ahead of Friday night's Premier League meeting with Crystal Palace.
Josko Gvardiol is in for a big season under Enzo Maresca at Manchester City
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Life in the Premier League under Enzo Maresca got off to a winning start with a hard-earned victory over Bournemouth, but it is safe to say that the side were still a long way off the level fans know they are capable of reaching.
Maresca has been candid about the challenges of bringing the group back up to scratch after a long summer, with several players short of full sharpness following their World Cup exertions.
That was a factor behind his caution over the likes of Rayan Cherki, who was left on the bench against the Cherries yet still shrugged off his disappointment to conjure two assists in the closing stages and turn the game on its head.
All of that has unfolded against a backdrop of near-constant change. Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Tijjani Reijnders have left to leave a hole in midfield.
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Savinho has joined Tottenham for £85 million, with Omar Marmoush following the Brazilian winger to north London on a season-long loan with an option to buy for £50 million and £10 million in add-ons next summer.
City's squad remains decidedly incomplete even after Ayyoub Bouaddi’s €100 million arrival from Lille and amid the uncertainty, one of the Blues' most valuable players has made his voice heard.
Gvardiol calls on Manchester City squad to step up
Rather than wait around for new faces to solve the team’s early-season struggles, Gvardiol has encouraged every member of the squad to shoulder the responsibility themselves.
After avoiding defeat by the skin of their teeth against Bournemouth, the Croatian acknowledged that City are some way from their ceiling but insisted the onus is on the players to close that gap while fixtures are still spread relatively far apart.
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“I think we are still not at our best so we need some time, we need to work on our fitness as well, to get into the rhythm, and we still need to use these long weeks to get better, to get in shape, because once we start playing every three days, you know how difficult it is,” said Gvardiol, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.
With bodies leaving the building, the defender made it clear that those who remain must be prepared to raise their level and drag the team through a demanding period.
“What I think is we need everyone. Everyone needs to be at his best, at their best - especially now some players have gone,” Gvardiol added.
“It’s not going to be easy, but our mentality - we’re going to push, we’re going to fight for it, and everyone needs to be ready. Everyone needs to sometimes step up and take the responsibility and fight for this badge, fight for this club.”
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A squad still under construction
By alluding to the heavy turnover, Gvardiol has highlighted the challenge the players face in adjusting to the new-look squad.
The exits of Rodri, Silva and Reijnders have stripped experience from the heart of the side, with Savinho and Marmoush thinning out attacking depth.
There is plenty of work still to be done before the window slams shut, even after Bouaddi’s arrival. City are set to announce the signing of Palmeiras winger Allan Elias and are understood to have agreed a €140 million fee to sign Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez.
Maresca must navigate the difficult balancing act of blooding in new arrivals while easing the existing group back to full fitness, all without surrendering ground in the title race.
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The UEFA Champions League and Carabao Cup are both set to see City join the action in the coming weeks and the fixtures will soon be arriving thick and fast.
That looming congestion is precisely why Gvardiol’s words are so vital in the wake of an opening day win. In calling on his colleagues to stand up and be counted, the Croatian has set the tone for how his side may be able to weather this period of transition.