Josko Gvardiol believes Manchester City’s season is beginning to turn a corner after a challenging start, urging his teammates to concentrate solely on their own performances rather than the noise around them.
The Croatian international has just completed his 100th appearance for the club, playing the full 90 minutes in City’s hard-fought 1-1 draw away to Arsenal. That result followed a 2-0 Champions League win over Napoli and a commanding 3-0 derby victory against Manchester United, marking a strong response to back-to-back Premier League defeats earlier in the month.
City currently sit ninth in the Premier League table, with Liverpool setting the early pace, but Gvardiol says it is far too soon to panic. With the Carabao Cup and Champions League adding to the calendar, he argues that City’s focus must remain inward.
Gvardiol on City’s mindset
Reflecting on the Arsenal draw, Gvardiol emphasised the importance of resilience and unity in the squad.
“Each season the league is getting stronger and stronger and it’s going to be difficult. It’s the early stage of the season and there’s many games to play so we’ll see. We need to take it game by game and just be focused on ourselves.” — Josko Gvardiol
He added that the performance at the Emirates proved the group had rediscovered its intensity. “Every player gave 100% to fight, every duel, every second ball. That’s what we’ve missed a little bit and me as a defender; I can tell you that I’m really happy to see my team next to me fighting for every ball.”
A crucial week for City
City’s improved form has come during one of their busiest stretches of the season, with three fixtures crammed into seven days. Gvardiol started all of them, underlining his importance to Pep Guardiola’s defensive structure after returning from injury.
The draw at Arsenal was frustrating given Gabriel Martinelli’s last-gasp equaliser, but Gvardiol believes the positives far outweigh the negatives. “It’s been a tough week. Three games in seven days, so I think we did a great job. We haven’t lost a game, so we just need to keep going that way,” he explained.
Stats snapshot: Josko Gvardiol (2025/26)
| Stat (2025/26) | Josko Gvardiol |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 7 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Tackles won per game | — |
source: sofascore match data – 22 September 2025
While Gvardiol’s numbers don’t yet tell the full story, his presence in the backline has coincided with a tightening of City’s defensive record across competitions.
Analyst verdict
FootballPlace analyst John William believes Gvardiol embodies the resilience City must lean on. “His words reflect Guardiola’s philosophy: focus on the controllables. City may not be top now, but with Gvardiol fit and firing, their defensive structure looks much stronger. This period could be the foundation for another late-season charge.”
Key insights
- Gvardiol marked his 100th appearance for City against Arsenal.
- City are unbeaten in their last three games (Arsenal, Napoli, Manchester United).
- The defender praised his team’s fighting spirit and discipline.
- City sit ninth in the Premier League but remain in every competition.
- Next up is a Carabao Cup trip to Huddersfield.
What’s next for Manchester City?
City face Huddersfield Town in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, a fixture Guardiola is likely to use for rotation but one that still carries expectations of victory. The chance to secure silverware early in the season could provide a timely morale boost.
After that, Brighton visit the Etihad in the Premier League, a match City must win to climb the table and reduce the early gap to Liverpool. For Gvardiol, keeping composure and focusing only on City’s own development remains the mantra.
👉 Do you think Josko Gvardiol’s leadership at the back can help Manchester City claw their way back into the Premier League title race?
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