Josko Gvardiol has suggested one thing has completely taken him by surprise at Manchester City since he signed from RB Leipzig.
The Croatian international is now in his second season at the Etihad Stadium, and has been a very prominent figure for City in 2024/25.
At the moment, Josko Gvardiol sits top of the table for Manchester City players with the most minutes played with 3343.
The star has been practically ever-present this season, in what has been a tough campaign for Pep Guardiola.
But despite injuries to centre-backs throughout the campaign, Gvardiol has played the majority of games on that left side, a position he has pretty much played since he joined.
It has been very interesting to see, since Gvardiol had played as a centre-back for RB Leipzig, and now he has made an admission about the role he plays.
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Gvardiol says he’s a left-back now as he admits surprise over Man City position change
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
At Leipzig, Gvardiol had carved out a reputation for being one of the most promising centre-backs in the world.
But up to now, Gvardiol has rarely played in the middle of City’s defence.
Guardiola saw potential in Gvardiol’s offensive attributes, so he has been operating at left-back to allow him to be influential further forward.
At one point in the season, Gvardiol had as many away goals in 2024 as Mo Salah, with the left-back position clearly allowing him to be adventurous.
The position change is something Gvardiol himself admits has taken him by surprise.
He said on The Official Man City podcast: “Yeah. So before I joined City, I thought, I thought like I’m going to be just a central defender, you know, with Ruben, with John, whoever is there. But yeah, I ended up as a fullback.
“So I was like, maybe just a couple of months, you know, the manager wants for me to get used to the league, you know, to the rhythm and everything. But yeah, it’s actually my position. But yeah, we are still, you know, I said every time we struggle, we got so many injuries this season and every time manager wants for me to play a different position, I’m ready to go in, you know, to give my best.
“So even if you put me as a fullback, as a kind of like a wingback, a player in the pocket, you know, I can do everything and I’m going to give my best. I’m not saying that I’m going to be the, every time he puts me, that I’m going to be the best player on the pitch. But you know what I mean?
“I’m just, I’m the kind of guy who’s giving like everything I can at the moment.”
Pep Guardiola loves converting players to left-back for Man City
It has been fascinating to see Gvardiol play at left-back over the past 18 months or so.
Many have felt as though it would only be a matter of time until Gvardiol moves inside.
But there has been no sign of the Manchester City manager doing that, even despite an injury crisis.
And now, of course, City have brought in two new centre-backs in Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis, suggesting Gvardiol really is a left-back by trade now.
Perhaps we should not be surprised.
Josko Gvardiol for Man City (2023-present)
Appearances – 82
Games played at left-back – 62
Games played at centre-back – 20
After all, Gvardiol has previous for converting players into the left-back position.
Fabian Delph was a central midfielder but ended up playing lots of games as a left-back.
Oleksandr Zinchenko was signed as an attacking midfielder, but ended up playing almost exclusively as a left-back.
And Joao Cancelo is a natural right-back, but played many games on the left side during his time as a City player.