National Team manager to hold crucial Pep Guardiola talks over defender’s fitness for FIFA World Cup | OneFootball

Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić is set to hold talks with Manchester City over the fitness and availability of Josko Gvardiol for this summer’s FIFA World Cup, as per reports.

The 24-year-old has been sidelined since early January after sustaining an injury during City’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Chelsea on January 4th, leaving the pitch after 51 minutes before subsequently undergoing surgery.

Gvardiol’s absence has stretched across the entirety of what has been a significant stretch of the season for the Blues, including Sunday’s Carabao Cup final triumph over Arsenal at Wembley.

With the World Cup on the horizon, Croatia are understandably eager to establish a clearer picture of the defender’s recovery timeline – and Dalić is wasting no time in seeking answers directly from the source.

Dalić to visit Etihad after March international break

As reported by Croatian outlet Net.hr and relayed by Sport Witness, Dalić confirmed his intentions to make the trip to Manchester upon the conclusion of Croatia’s upcoming international fixtures against Colombia and Brazil – in order to speak with Guardiola and the club directly about Gvardiol’s situation.

“After this tour, we will go to Manchester to talk to the coach (Guardiola) to check the situation,” Dalić said.

“Joško is very important to us, there is no doubt about that position, his energy and power. We will go to Manchester and try to get answers from the coach about what the plan is.”

The Croatia manager was also keen to stress that his National Team would work around whatever condition Gvardiol arrives in, should he be available at all, making clear that his very presence in the squad – even without club minutes under his belt – would be welcomed.

“We cannot influence it and we do not want to. I believe that he will be fine, in whatever condition he comes, it will be important to us,” Dalić added. “If he does not play anything at the club until then, we will have two friendly matches to prepare him. I hope and believe that he will be okay.”

What is the wider picture on Gvardiol’s recovery?

There have been cautiously encouraging signs in recent weeks regarding the defender’s progress. Croatia’s head of medical services, Tomislav Vlahović, indicated last month that Gvardiol would be ready in time for the World Cup, and reports have also suggested that City’s medical staff are pleased with how his rehabilitation has been progressing.

Gvardiol has featured in 23 appearances across all competitions for City this season, accumulating 1,796 minutes before his injury forced him out of contention. The Croatian international is contracted to the club until 2028.

His absence has been keenly felt at the Etihad Stadium during a demanding period of fixtures, and with the business end of the season now approaching – including a FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool and the ongoing Premier League title race – City will be hoping to have him back in some capacity before the curtain comes down.

For now, the focus turns to the international break and Dalić’s imminent trip north. The answers he gets in Manchester may well shape Croatia’s World Cup preparations for months to come.