Marc Guehi competed his move to Manchester City this week and is set to make his debut vs Wolves on Saturday
In a week where Manchester City’s captains led the decision to refund the Blues fans who travelled to Norway on Tuesday, it felt fitting that Pep Guardiola pointed out Marc Guehi’s leadership qualities as the centre back prepares for his City debut.
The 25-year-old is expected to go straight into the team to face Wolves on Saturday with City in need of a pick me up following desperately disappointing defeats to Manchester United and Bodo/Glimt in the past seven days. Those results have dropped City off the pace in the Premier League and the Champions League and the decision to sign Guehi is in part to try and mitigate the difficulties the Blues are facing.
A host of players are out injured and the issue is being acutely felt in defence. Abdukodir Khusanov and Max Alleyne have been the starting centre halves in recent games and while the pair have acquitted themselves well enough, the duo cannot be expected to sustain City’s challenge on four fronts.
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Guehi offers obvious quality in the heart of the backline and his Premier League experience means he can slot straight into the side. Yet the England international can offer a leadership role as well. Of City’s four captains, two – Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias – were not involved in Norway and a third – Rodri – was sent off.
The lack of experience at the back for City just now is striking with Josko Gvardiol a long-term injury absentee and Guehi will help provide a solution to the ‘fragility’ both Guardiola and Tijjani Reijnders have mentioned in recent days.
“The fragility I know how it will be solved. It’s not solved with just one player but he (Guehi) is going to help us because he’s exceptional, he’s a player for England, the captain for the team that won the FA Cup and made an incredible season.”
Guehi can mitigate the absence of Dias and Gvardiol on and off the pitch. He is a quiet leader, one schooled by City team-mate John Stones during England camps. He led Palace admirably during the most successful season in their history and his temprement and character played a significant part in City’s interest.
The Blues are convinced Guehi represents one of the best value deals in recent history having paid an initial £20million to bring him to the Etihad. There is also a percentage sell-on clause inserted in the deal, while City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak has agreed to double Guehi’s wages to £200,000-a-week. But given some of the previous spending City have indulged in, combined with the fact Guehi is not even approaching his peak yet, senior club figures are thrilled with getting such a signing over the line.
City have stolen a march on Liverpool, not to mention some of Europe’s biggest clubs, to land the centre back. Guardiola has admired Guehi from afar for a couple of seasons. He likes his calmness in possession, ability to bring the ball out of defence and his dedication to being the best footballer he can be while Guehi has told people close to him that he expects Guardiola to take his game to a whole new level.
He is also a long-term replacement for Stones, who has taken Guehi under his wing on England duty. Stones is set to depart in the summer when his contract expires and even though he is currently sidelined with injury, he is likely to play a key role behind the scenes in helping Guehi settle, adapt and thrive.
“I think John has taken me under his wing to be honest. Especially when I’m with the national team, I see him as a big brother,” said Guehi. “He’s someone who has looked out for me, especially playing with him at the Euros was amazing.
“He just makes your life easier, because of his understanding of the game and how good he is. But again, the person, he’s such a down-to-earth guy, especially with all that he’s achieved. He’s such an amazing person to be around and I’m really delighted to playing with him.”
Guehi’s first action will come against Wolves this afternoon. City need him to hit the ground running and help turn the tide. If he and the team can do that, the Norway nightmare will quickly be forgotten.
