ESPN pundit Craig Burley recently shared his insights on Josko Gvardiol’s performance for Manchester City in their 4-4 draw against Chelsea. The match, hailed as one of the season’s best, witnessed an uncharacteristically shaky defense from City, prompting criticism, especially directed at key defender Ruben Dias.
Burley, analyzing the game on the ESPN YouTube channel, expressed surprise at City’s defensive vulnerability, a departure from their typically solid performances. He specifically focused on Gvardiol, the Croatian international, asserting that the young talent might not be playing in his optimal position.
In Burley’s view, Gvardiol, despite being a talented player, is not suited to the role of a full-back. He scrutinized the Croatian’s positioning during Chelsea’s opening goal, highlighting it as a crucial error. Burley acknowledged that Gvardiol wasn’t the sole player facing challenges, referencing Nathan Ake’s absence and Akanji’s involvement. This defensive aspect, according to Burley, may be a slight weakness for the City team.
Despite Gvardiol’s struggles in the game, Burley acknowledged the player’s commendable ball-handling skills, noting a passing accuracy of 94% and citing his three tackles, three clearances, and winning 5 out of 8 duels, according to SofaScore statistics. Burley labeled the match as Gvardiol’s worst outing since his high-profile transfer to City in the summer.
However, he found some of the criticism directed at Gvardiol to be somewhat exaggerated. Before the Chelsea clash, Gvardiol, a high-earning player at £130,000 per week, had showcased impressive performances in City’s left-wing position. Highlighting Gvardiol’s technical ability and defensive solidity in previous games, Burley emphasized the player’s relative youth and the challenges that come with adapting to English football in his first season.
Burley credited the discomfort caused by opponents Raheem Sterling and Reece James, asserting that Gvardiol would learn from such experiences and emerge as a better player. He stressed the importance of recognizing Gvardiol’s developmental stage and giving credit for his overall contributions to the team.
In essence, despite Gvardiol’s challenging performance against Chelsea, Burley sees the Croatian international as a promising talent with room for growth, underscoring the learning curve associated with transitioning to the English football scene.
