Manchester City centre-back Josko Gvardiol has been explicit about what the squad must focus on as the club continues its transfer dealings.
Gvardiol and Marc Guehi celebrate
Gvardiol urged his Manchester City colleagues to elevate their performance levels during a transitional period for the team under Enzo Maresca. The Croatian’s dramatic stoppage-time strike sealed a crucial three points for the club in the first round of Premier League fixtures, though they struggled to break down Bournemouth for extended periods of the match.
Maresca acknowledged the challenges of reintegrating players following their extended break over the summer, which included World Cup participation. He explained that fielding Rayan Cherki from the start against Bournemouth would have resulted in approximately half the squad being well short of their optimal physical condition. Despite this setback, the French forward responded by providing two assists in the closing stages, though City recognise they remain very much a side still finding their feet.
The situation has been compounded this past week by the exits of Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders, with an agreement also in place for Savinho to move to Tottenham and Omar Marmoush appearing set to follow him out of the door. The club completed a transfer for Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille on Sunday, yet considerable business remains to be conducted before the transfer window closes.
While supporters await new arrivals, Gvardiol emphasised that the existing players cannot afford to sit back and await assistance. Every squad member must reach peak sharpness as swiftly as possible, with Champions League and Carabao Cup action commencing within the coming weeks and the club needing to maintain their push at the summit of the Premier League during the opening exchanges of the campaign.
Gvardiol stated that the team is not yet operating at maximum capacity and requires time to build up their conditioning and rediscover their rhythm. He added that they must utilise the upcoming extended periods between matches to improve and reach optimal fitness, because the demands of playing every three days would test everyone considerably.
He noted that returning to their best form sooner would be preferable, though he could not predict exactly when that would occur. He stressed that they need every individual performing at their highest level, particularly given that some players have departed. While this would not be straightforward, the team’s character meant they would push forward and battle through it, with everyone required to accept responsibility and give everything for the club.