Gvardiol: With Haaland, Scoring Is Not My Role
Manchester City's Joško Gvardiol highlights his defensive priorities, crediting Erling Haaland's prolific scoring for easing the pressure on him to find the net.
Joško Gvardiol, a key figure in Manchester City's defensive lineup, has emphasized the importance of his primary role on the pitch: defending. In a candid interview with TNT Sports, the Croatian international praised the contributions of prolific teammates like Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, which allow him to focus solely on protecting the team's goal. "I don't feel the need to score," Gvardiol stated. "With players like Haaland in the team, no one expects me to be on the score sheet. My job is to stop goals, not score them."
Gvardiol’s remarks come ahead of City’s critical Premier League clash against Brentford. Reflecting on their previous encounter with the Bees, he admitted the team needed to improve their focus from the outset. "Last time, we conceded within the first minute. It was a tough lesson, and we aim to start much sharper this time to secure all three points," he said.
Since joining Manchester City, Gvardiol has been an integral part of their defense, contributing to their overall stability and resilience. His acknowledgment of Haaland's extraordinary goal-scoring capabilities underlines the strong team dynamics at City. Haaland, who broke Premier League scoring records last season, has continued to lead the attack with unmatched consistency, allowing defenders like Gvardiol to excel in their specialized roles.
City’s well-rounded squad is one of the key reasons behind their success under Pep Guardiola. The synergy between the team's defensive anchors and attacking stars ensures balance across all areas of the pitch. As City pushes for domestic and European silverware, Gvardiol's reliability at the back and Haaland's brilliance upfront will remain pivotal.
With a strong focus on teamwork and clear role delineation, Manchester City is well-positioned to continue their dominance this season, further solidifying their reputation as one of the best football teams globally.