Pep Guardiola’s decision to play Joško Gvardiol at left-back at Manchester City has inspired Croatia to do the same, with the player set to feature in that role for his country in this international break.
That’s according to Novilist, who cover the player today and the fact he is destined to be the left-back in this break after featuring there for Manchester City this season.
They explain that the announced move from Croatia ‘seems logical’ when you take into account Pep Guardiola’s tactical ideas.
They argue that is Gvardiol at left-back is good for City ‘then the same is true for Croatia’ and there’s very little argument otherwise.
That’s because he only called one left-back up to his latest squad, with Rangers’ Borna Barišić only given a pre-call up. That was a hint that Dalić would hand the left-back spot to Gvardiol, as he also plays there for Manchester City.
That seems ‘quite logical’ as if Pep Guardiola, arguably one of the best managers in the history of the game is willing to trust him there then so should Croatia. Their argument is that if it’s ‘good enough for Manchester City’, it’s good enough for them.
They do, however, point out that Gvardiol is not new to playing left-back after also featuring there for former club Dinamo and even made his first national appearances in that role.
Dalić has since observed the options available to him and Gvardiol’s performances at the Etihad and decided he will replicate what Guardiola has done.
It does mean that he has a big decision to make at centre-back and who will partner Ajax’s Josip Šutalo, but it appears that’s something he’s happy to do.
