The Croatian international spoke publicly for the first time about Manchester City's new manager, saying the Italian tactician is the perfect choice and that he is ready to take on a bigger role in the team.
Joško Gvardiol is confident that Manchester City made the right decision in appointing Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola's successor. The Croatian defender has backed the Italian coach but, in an interview with BBC Sport, as reported by Index.hr, stressed that the team will need time to adapt to his methods.
Maresca took over the bench this summer after Guardiola left following a full decade at the helm. He signed a three-year deal with the club, keeping him at City until the summer of 2029, and returned to the club after previously managing the development squad and assisting Guardiola.
"The level is extremely high, and he was chosen for a reason. I think he has quality and new ideas. We'll have to see how we play, what our style will be, and which tactical concepts we'll apply," Gvardiol told BBC Sport, as quoted by Tportal.
He added that time is needed because everything is completely new. "Still, I think he's the perfect choice. Of course, time is needed. Everything is completely new, and it's not easy to change a manager. We'll have to be patient," he said.
According to him, the burden of the new era doesn't rest solely on the coaching staff. "It's our job to help him as much as we can, to listen to him and try to adapt as quickly as possible. We've met and briefly talked about my injury, about how we played, and what my role was under Pep," he explained.
The Croatian international also reflected on Guardiola's departure. Speculation about his future lasted almost the entire last season, and he only communicated his final decision to the players at the very end of the campaign.
"Some will say he could have told us earlier, and others that he couldn't. I think he chose the perfect moment because if he had announced it earlier, it could have affected us mentally," Gvardiol said. He also noted that the players sensed a change was coming: "We knew that at some point he would have to tell us. He was here for ten years, and it was time for him to rest a bit. We could feel that."
He also recalled an earlier situation when Guardiola was at a crossroads. "Two seasons ago, he was weighing whether to leave or stay, and he decided to stay. That was great because we got another chance to win something. Unfortunately, it was time to part ways, but with him, you never know. Maybe in six months, he'll get his energy back," he added.
Gvardiol missed five months of last season with a broken bone in his right leg, returning in May. Now he enters the new season fully focused on getting back to his best form. The club recently showed its faith in him with a new five-year contract, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2031.
With the change of manager and the departure of some more experienced players, the hierarchy within the dressing room is also shifting. Gvardiol is aware of this and doesn't shy away from greater responsibility. "It's hard to talk about that now; we'll see. Ruben Dias is one of our team's leaders and will probably now be at the very top, maybe the most important. He'll need support from a few other players who have been at the club longer. If that responsibility falls to me, I'll accept it," he concluded.
Maresca made his debut on the City bench on Saturday in a friendly against Inter in Hong Kong. The match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, with the Italian side winning 3-1 on penalties, as reported by Tportal.
