Josko Gvardiol has revealed that Manchester City’s players are desperate for Pep Guardiola to extend his reign at the Etihad to a decade and beyond.

City’s brilliant Croatian defender credits Guardiola with his transformation from ruthless centre-half to goalscoring left-back as the Blues lifted the Premier Leahue for a record fourth consecutive time in his first season in England following his £77m move from RB Leipzig.

The 22-year-old now wants to make even more history – but would also love nothing more than to see his manager to end speculation about his future by signing a new contract. Guardiola’s current deal is up next summer, but Gvardiol has seen nothing to suggest that the Catalan’s appetite for success has diminished during City’s pre-season tour of the United States.

Gvardiol said: “Pep is always passionate and focused. He’s constantly innovating and motivating us. We would all love for him to stay longer because he brings out the best in us and has built something special here.

“Working under Pep is so 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 has won six titles in eight years in Manchester, insists his future will be decided by the hunger shown by his players. Gvardiol certainly has unfinished business, despite joining City’s pantheon of Premier League champions in his first season in England.

The Zagreb-born defender also lifted the Club World Cup and European Super Cup – but there were disappointments. City were beaten on penalties by Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League while Gvardiol’s mix-up with keeper Stefan Ortega led to Manchester United’s first goal in their shock 2-1 FA Cup Final victory over their rivals.

Gvardiol is the new face of ‘Protect your Craft’, a new series of designs launched by luxury outerwear brand Mackage ( 
Image:
Mackage)

‌The two Manchester clubs return to Wembley for the Community Shield on Saturday. And Gvardiol said: “I’ve enjoyed living in Manchester; the city’s football culture is incredible. The passion for football here is as intense as I expected.

‌“It’s a vibrant place with friendly people. The weather was a bit of a surprise, but I’ve adjusted. Winning the Premier League four consecutive times was a historical achievement. But this season, as always, I will push my limits and try to give my best.

‌“The Premier League has been everything I expected—intense and highly competitive. The biggest surprise has been the physicality and pace of the games, which require you to be at your best in every match. We have a talented squad and a very strong team spirit. The key will be staying focused, maintaining our high standards, and taking each game one at a time.

Josko Gvardiol impresed during his debut campaign as a Man City player ( 
Gvardiol had to wait until his 33rd appearance before scoring his first City goal in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Madrid in the Bernabeu. That started a run of five goals in seven games. He added: “Winning the Champions League would be a dream come true. It is the pinnacle of club football.

“Lifting that trophy would be an incredible achievement for me and the whole team. I’m always ready to adapt and help the team. I saw playing left-back as an opportunity to develop my football skills and learn more about positioning and the 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 attacking contributions. Continuous learning and adapting are key to this development.”

** Josko Gvardiol is the new face of ‘Protect your Craft’, a new series of designs launched by luxury outerwear brand Mackage. He said: “Mackage’s collection is perfect for Manchester’s rainy weather. The stylish and functional designs keep me warm and dry, whether I’m on my way to training or just out in the city. It’s great to have gear that combines fashion and quality.” **