- Josko Gvardiol’s PR manager shares update
- Gvardiol is working hard behind the scenes
- Keen to play at the 2026 World Cup
Manchester City were dealt a seismic blow during their 1-1 draw against Chelsea as Josko Gvardiol suffered a season-ending injury during the contest.
Fortunately for City, Marc Guehi has impressed Pep Guardiola since his arrival from Crystal Palace and stepped in during the Croatian’s ill-timed absence with aplomb.
Guehi’s well-taken strike against Chelsea was perhaps the best example of how well he has replaced Gvardiol so far, considering the former RB Leipzig defender’s knack of scoring crucial goals.
However, Manchester City fans will be hoping that the Premier League champion returns to full fitness from his broken leg as soon as possible.
Josko Gvardiol training twice a day to make injury return
Gvardiol was in excellent form before sustaining an injury and since his move to the Etihad Stadium in general, he has proven to be a terrific signing.
The 24-year-old’s PR manager, Stipo Dubravak has revealed that the reason he has been away from the spotlight is due to being hard at work to become fully fit again.
Notably, the last time Gvardiol took to social media to express his thoughts was about his injury was in January.
This is a hard moment, but it will never define me. I know who I am and where I come from.
— Joško Gvardiol (@JoskoGvardiol4) January 5, 2026
To the Cityzens, thank you for your endless support. I love you, and I’ll fight every day to return stronger, as a City warrior. pic.twitter.com/VU3sYllKYv
Stipo Dubravak told Sportske Novosti: “We understand the public interest and the articles that have appeared in the English media. As you can see, during this period Josko is not appearing in public or posting on social media.
“He is extremely motivated and focused on getting back on the field and being available to the club, and especially the national team. Even when he was on his time off and came to Croatia, he had his official physical therapist with him and worked on his recovery every day.
Gvardiol has also been training twice a day just to make a timely return from injury ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with Dubravak adding: “Everyone who knows him will tell you that his level of professionalism is fascinating.
“As always, the most important thing is for him to be fully fit and healthy. He has worked his entire life, sacrificing and fighting to be at the highest level and play for his country.
“Right now, he is working extremely hard on his recovery, training twice a day: he has his first workout in the morning, and after a short rest, he returns to the club for an afternoon session, six times a week. His heart belongs to the Croatian national team, and for them, he would play on crutches if he had to.”
Josko Gvardiol should miss the World Cup if he is not fully fit
Manchester City fans will be delighted to discover that Gvardiol has not been bogged down by missing games for club and country and is instead grafting away to return to the pitch.
However, the City defender should miss the World Cup if he does not feel fully fit.
While Gvardiol’s recovery is progressing well, the last thing he would want to do is dampen his long-term prospects by rushing back onto the pitch.
Whether Josko Gvardiol will regain Man City starting spot after injury return
With Abdukodir Khusanov in phenomenal form, Guehi going from strength to strength and Ruben Dias being City’s vice-captain, some may question whether the DFB-Pokal winner will regain his starting spot in the side.
Nico O’Reilly has become a star this campaign, emerging as his boyhood club’s first-choice left-back while Rayan Ait-Nouri has proven his credentials as a top-class backup option.
As a result, Gvardiol will have plenty of competition at left-back as well if he intends to make that his position in the long run at the Etihad Stadium.
However, based on how key he has been to Pep Guardiola’s system over the years, the Zagreb-born colossus is likely to be a regular starter for Manchester City next season.
