After what was a dire season for Manchester City, they ruined their chance to end it all on a high note on Saturday. Pep Guardiola’s side travelled to Wembley for the FA Cup final with Crystal Palace, but came out second best, much to the dismay of their manager come full time.
They will hope to right their wrongs just a few weeks on when the East Mancunian outfit travel to the United States of America for the Club World Cup, where they will compete for the competition for the first time in its 32-team format. Moroccan side Wydad AC, UAE outfit Al Ain FC, and Italian giants Juventus are their three group stage opponents.
One player who will play a huge role in any success over the next few weeks is Josko Gvardiol.
Gvardiol’s importance for City
There are not many players in the City squad whose form is as important to their success as Croatia international Gvardiol. The 23-year-old was described as a player who “does stuff very few can” by football analyst Umir, who also said the defender has been “brilliant” going forward this term.
There have been just four games in which Gvardiol has not appeared this term, further highlighting his importance to Guardiola’s side. In total, he has played 51 times across all competitions, including all but one in the Premier League.
One of the biggest benefits of the former RB Leipzig is his versatility. A centre-back by trade, he has featured more often than not at left-back for the Citizens this term, which has been important for Guardiola amid injuries and a lack of options.
The other thing that the 23-year-old offers to this City side is goals. He had found the back of the net six times this term, which has been bettered by just five players at City.
The fact that he is such a rich source of goals shows just how important the left-back is to Guardiola.
Interestingly, City are linked with a player who could join the club and become just as important to Guardiola as Gvardiol has this term.
Man City's search for a defender
If a report from Fabrizio Romano earlier this week is to be believed, then City are plotting a move for Newcastle United right-back Tino Livramento.
The 22-year-old is ‘under consideration’ at the Etihad Stadium, with City looking to sign a new right-back. A price tag is not clear at this time, but he cost the Magpies £40m including add-ons almost two years ago.
Described as a “superstar” by Newcastle content creator Kendall Rowan, Livramento has played an important role for Eddie Howe, in a side pushing for a second-place finish this season. That would see them leapfrog City in the Premier League.
The London-born right-back, who is a product of Chelsea’s academy, has played 44 games in all competitions this campaign for the Magpies. Perhaps one of the biggest worries for City is the fact that he has just one assist, which came in a 3-0 win away to Leicester City.
Like Gvardiol, Livramento is a versatile player. This term, he has featured at right-back, left-back and even as a wing-back for Howe’s side.
Admittedly, he has made 29 appearances on his favoured right side, but with another 12 coming on the left, it shows dependable versatility.
In fact, the similarities between the two players do not stop there. The underlying numbers on FBref highlight how alike they are, too. For example, the Newcastle star averages 0.78 key passes per 90 minutes, compared to 0.73 each game for Gvardiol.
Key passes
0.78
0.73
Passes into penalty area
0.88
0.58
Tackles and interceptions
2.53
2.7
Ball recoveries
5.98
3.84
Progressive carries
2.5
2.53
There is evidence to suggest that Livramento could be City’s best defensive signing since Gvardiol. Vitor Reis was one of two defensive signings in January, but he is unproven and has played just three first-team games.
Fellow winter addition Abdukodir Khusanov did well to bounce back from a nightmare start to his City career, following his error on debut against Chelsea, but is also largely unproven at Premier League level, despite glimpses of promise shown.
Matheus Nunes, a midfielder by trade, has been playing right-back this term but “doesn’t know how to defend”, according to Man City content creator Steven Mcinerney.
This could be a wonderful signing for City. There is no doubt about just how important Livramento can be under Guardiola, given his attacking capabilities and how reliable he is defensively. He could certainly be their best signing since Gvardiol, given the lack of experience or struggles those made since have experienced.
If he can replicate anywhere near the impact Gvardiol has had at the Etihad Stadium, this is a signing that City fans can surely get excited about.