Gvardiol urges every City player to step up as departures leave squad stretched

Josko Gvardiol has issued a rallying call to his Manchester City teammates, insisting the squad cannot afford to wait for new signings to arrive as the club navigates a turbulent end to the transfer window.

City opened their Premier League campaign with a win over Bournemouth, Gvardiol’s injury-time goal proving decisive, but the performance exposed a team still finding its rhythm under head coach Enzo Maresca. Several players are working their way back to full fitness after extended summers, with Maresca admitting he could not start Rayan Cherki against the Cherries because too many members of the squad were below their physical peak. The Frenchman still contributed two late assists.

The situation has been complicated further by a series of high-profile departures. Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders have both left the club in the past week, a deal has been agreed for Savinho to join Tottenham Hotspur, and Omar Marmoush is reported to be close to following him out of the door. City did agree terms to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, but significant business remains to be done before the window closes.

Gvardiol was direct about the mindset required in the meantime. “I think we are still not at our best so we need some time, we need to work on our fitness as well, to get into the rhythm, and we still need to use these long weeks to get better, to get in shape, because once we start playing every three days, you know how difficult it is,” he said.

“What I think is we need everyone. Everyone needs to be at his best, at their best — especially now some players have gone. It’s not going to be easy, but our mentality — we’re going to push, we’re going to fight for it, and everyone needs to be ready. Everyone needs to sometimes step up and take the responsibility and fight for this badge, fight for this club.”

The urgency is real. City face Champions League and Carabao Cup commitments within weeks, and will need to maintain their pace at the top of the Premier League table while the squad is reshaped around them.