Josko Gvardiol is returning to his best form after a disrupted season last year. The Manchester City defender missed five months due to a broken leg, allowing Nico O'Reilly to feature at left-back. Now fully fit, Gvardiol has established himself in the starting line-up. Despite competition for places, he is described by sources as a "soldier" who accepts any assignment for the team's benefit. He feels satisfied with manager Maresca's tactics and has gained more game knowledge since moving to England in 2023.

Gvardiol, who cost £77m from RB Leipzig, has played both centre-back and left-back. He enjoys the freedom of the left-back role, allowing him to roam forward. This was evident in the season-opener, where he scored an injury-time winner against Bournemouth and provided two assists, including Erling Haaland's strike at Manchester United. Defensively, he was solid at Old Trafford, keeping Bryan Mbeumo in check and winning nine of 11 duels despite playing with 10 men. He ranks highly in duels and tackles this Premier League term. While Rayan Ait-Nouri signed as left-back last summer, Gvardiol's performances have limited his opportunities. Gvardiol signed a new five-year deal over the summer, committing his long-term future to the Etihad Stadium despite interest from Bayern Munich and Barcelona.