Josko Gvardiol reveals sleepless nights during ‘painful’ Manchester City season | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol has revealed he endured sleepless nights during the last campaign as Pep Guardiola’s side struggled for form and results.

The Croatian was one of the most consistent performers in a season that saw City fall short in every major competition, marking the club’s first trophyless year since 2016/17.

Despite individual progress, Gvardiol became emblematic of a wider dressing-room frustration as the squad battled recurring injuries, dips in form, and a disrupted rhythm. Gvardiol’s reflections also arrive at a time when City’s defensive storylines have remained central.

The summer saw Manuel Akanji depart on loan, John Stones retained with arguably a final chance on proving fitness, and a loan to Girona for Vitor Reis. Against that backdrop, Josko Gvardiol’s importance has only grown, with the club considering a new contract for him.

The Croatian’s honesty further reflects a wider shift inside the Etihad Stadium, where senior figures have emphasised improved morale heading into the current campaign. The contrast between last season’s struggles and the renewed energy has become a recurring theme.

Speaking during a recent press conference, Josko Gvardiol has admitted that the last campaign was ‘the worst season’ of his top-level career to date, leading to sleepless nights.

“For me it was the worst season so far I’ve done, ever had in my career. It was painful. I remember I couldn’t sleep in the nights because I was trying to find solutions, trying to help the team, everyone in the club, to get out of this position,” said Gvardiol.

The Croatian continued, “But sometimes it’s difficult, things not going the way we wanted, I’m glad it’s behind us, we recovered well. In football I say it’s good in three days there’s a new game which forces you to forget what happened two days ago.

“So it’s behind us, a new season, and I think we all see already the situation in the club, in the dressing room is much different. It’s in a better way than last season.”

Despite the difficulties of the last campaign, Gvardiol ended the season with the club’s internal Player of the Season award. “It’s nice to get an award that I got, but it didn’t make me happy because we struggled a lot,” the versatile defender said this week.

“My first season we won the Premier League, were close to [winning] the FA Cup. Even last season close to the FA Cup. But then at the end, we didn’t win anything and as a footballer, you want to win the games, the titles.”

Looking ahead, Josko Gvardiol’s comments could signal a turning point in both his individual development and the collective mentality of Pep Guardiola’s squad, and the 23-year-old appears positioned to become a central leadership figure in the next evolution of the defence.

His stature within the group may also influence decisions around the defensive rebuild. With potential outgoings such as Akanji likely at the end of the season and the club evaluating additions at full-back, Gvardiol’s stability and maturity could shape moves in the market.

If the renewed atmosphere he describes translates onto the pitch, Josko Gvardiol may also be entering the season in which he transforms from standout performer to one of Pep Guardiola’s true pillars for the future.