Josko Gvardiol pleads with Pep Guardiola as Manchester City boss faces crucial decision

Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol has revealed the team's strong desire to see Pep Guardiola commit to the club beyond his current contract, which expires next summer.

City's Croatian defender has praised Guardiola for transforming his game since his big-money move from RB Leipzig. Gvardiol, who played a pivotal role in City's fourth consecutive Premier League title last season, is eager to achieve more triumphs under Guardiola's tutelage.

The 22-year-old star told the Mirror: “Pep is always passionate and focused. He's always innovating and motivating us. We'd all like him to stay longer because he brings out the best in us and has built something special here.”

“Working under Pep is very rewarding. He constantly pushes us to reach our full potential and be perfect in every aspect of our game. His high standards and incredible attention to detail have helped me grow as a player and as a person.”

Guardiola, who won six titles in eight years at Manchester, says his future will be determined by the zeal shown by his players. Despite winning the Premier League in his first season with City, Gvardiol still has some unfinished business.

The Zagreb-born defender has also won the Club World Cup and the European Super Cup, but he has suffered setbacks. City suffered a penalty shootout defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, while a mistake between Gvardiol and goalkeeper Stefan Ortega allowed Manchester United to score their side's first goal in an unexpected 2-1 FA Cup final win over their rivals.

The two Manchester clubs will return to Wembley next Saturday for the Community Shield. And Gvardiol said: “I have loved living in Manchester; the football culture in the city is phenomenal. The passion for football here is as intense as I expected.”

“It’s a lively place with friendly people. The weather has been a bit of a surprise but I’ve adapted. Winning the Premier League four times in a row was a historic achievement. But this season, as always, I’ll be pushing myself to the limit and giving my best.”

“The Premier League has been everything I expected: intense and very competitive. The biggest surprise has been the physicality and pace of the games, which demand you to be at your best in every game. We have a talented squad and a very strong team spirit. The key will be to stay focused, maintain our high standards and take each game one at a time.”

Gvardiol scored his first goal for City on his 33rd appearance, in a 3-3 draw against Madrid at the Bernabéu. He went on to score five goals in seven games.

He added: “Winning the Champions League would be a dream come true. It's the pinnacle of club football.”

“Lifting this trophy would be an incredible achievement for me and the whole team. I am always ready to adapt and help the team. I saw playing left-back as an opportunity to develop my footballing skills and learn more about the positioning and tactical demands of different roles.

“I have improved my tactical awareness and versatility, learning to play in different defensive positions. But I still see room for improvement in my offensive contributions. Continuous learning and adaptation are essential to this development.”