Marc Guehi opens up on Manchester City adaptation challenges amid Arsenal title battle | OneFootball

Manchester City and England defender Marc Guehi has lifted the lid on adapting to the standards at the Etihad Stadium and working with Pep Guardiola.

The 25-year-old has gotten off the mark at City since joining the Blues for £20 million from Crystal Palace as an emergency defensive reinforcement following a personnel crisis that hit Guardiola in January.

Guehi was close to joining Liverpool last summer before a transfer broke down at the eleventh hour and just over six months on from having a medical at Anfield cut short, the England international is playing a key role for Manchester City in their chase of a historic quadruple.

City have won five games on the bounce as they keep up the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal, with Guehi playing 90 minutes in the Blues’ 2-1 win over Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium at the weekend.

In post-match conversation with TNT Sports, Guehi was asked to reflect on how he is getting on with adapting to the standards at Manchester City.

“What a top club this place is, and for the first minute I’ve come, everyone has been so welcoming; the players, the staff,” Guehi said.

“The manager’s been great; I’ve had to adapt completely, change my game completely. And I’m still learning a lot, each and every day, and it’s difficult.

“It’s more thought process, as opposed to physical, thinking a lot, finding the right pass, when to pass the ball, driving at players, committing players – there’s so many different aspects of the game that I’m learning, on the job.”

Guehi is expected to remain first-choice in defence for Guardiola during the continued absence of Josko Gvardiol, who suffered a tibial fracture to his right leg in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in January and is expected to remain out till April at the very least.

John Stones has returned to fitness and remains a reliable option to come in every now and then, with Nathan Ake also adding further depth to a position that has become worrisome from an injury standpoint in recent years for Manchester City.

Executives at the Etihad Stadium will be delighted to see Guehi and fellow January signing Antoine Semenyo seamlessly integrate into Guardiola’s first-team squad as the Blues remain in the hunt for an unprecedented quadruple.

Guehi will be desperate to finish his first season at the Etihad Stadium with silverware on his hands, with City through to the FA Cup fifth round, Carabao Cup final as well as the Round of 16 stage of the UEFA Champions League.