“I was surprised!” – Josko Gvardiol reveals late notice over Manchester City start against Crystal Palace | OneFootball

Josko Gvardiol has revealed he was surprised to find his name in Manchester City’s starting line-up for Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace.

The Croatian centre-back returned to action for Manchester City for the first time since January, when a tibial fracture sustained in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea ruled him out of the most consequential stretch of the season.

Gvardiol played the full 90 minutes at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night as a much-changed Pep Guardiola side won 3-0 over Crystal Palace to keep their Premier League title hopes alive and maintain the pressure on league leaders Arsenal.

Gvardiol: I was surprised, I didn’t expect my name

Speaking to Sky Sports after the final whistle, Gvardiol was candid about the circumstances of his return and the condition he is in after such an extended absence.

The 24-year-old made no attempt to dress up his surprise at being thrown straight into the starting lineup. “I was surprised, I didn’t expect my name in the starting XI,” he said.

“Like two, three hours before kick-off! At the end of the day, you need to be ready. I’m happy to be back, happy to be in the starting XI and we know we’ve only got three games left, so happy to be back and get minutes.”

Gvardiol was equally honest about where his fitness levels stand following four months on the sidelines. “I’m glad to be back, feeling good actually,” the former RB Leipzig man added.

“I wouldn’t say I’m at 100 percent or at my best but it’s normal. I need games, minutes, together.”

The admission that he is not yet at his best will come as no surprise given the length of his absence, but the performance itself suggested a player settling back into his rhythm quickly.

Guardiola praised Gvardiol’s importance to the squad earlier this week, insisting it is “not easy to find a player like him.”

Gvardiol to Foden: Well done, brother!

Gvardiol also took the opportunity to single out Phil Foden for special praise, with the England international marking a rare start with an eye-catching pair of assists in the first-half of Wednesday’s win against the Eagles.

“We know his quality, how good he is in small spaces,” Gvardiol said of Foden. “He’s really good and I enjoy to play with him! We know he’s capable of doing these things and that’s exactly what we needed. Great assist and well done, brother!”

The warmth of Gvardiol’s words reflects the mood within a Manchester City dressing room that has rallied around Foden during a difficult second half of the season.

Guardiola dedicated significant time in his pre-Crystal Palace press conference to backing the 25-year-old, urging him to “never forget who you are” and drawing parallels with club captain Bernardo Silva‘s own difficult spell in his third season at the Etihad Stadium.

What does Gvardiol’s return mean for City’s run-in?

With the FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday and monumental league clashes against Bournemouth and Aston Villa to follow, the timing of Gvardiol’s return is significant.

His ability to play 90 minutes against Crystal Palace – albeit not yet at full capacity – gives Guardiola a genuine option in central defence for City’s final three games of the season as the Blues retain slim hopes of a domestic treble.

The bigger picture for Gvardiol personally is the contract situation that has been one of the subplots of City’s season. City have tabled a long-term extension keeping him at the Etihad Stadium until 2033, with Real Madrid‘s interest lurking in the background.

A strong finish to the season – starting with Wembley on Saturday – can only strengthen the case for the versatile defender staying put for the longer run.