Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol has confessed that he's been dwelling on his mistake in the FA Cup final all summer and is eager to make amends against Manchester United in next month's Community Shield.
The Croatian, a key player in City's Premier League title triumph, was involved in a mix-up with goalkeeper Stefan Ortega that gifted United the opening goal in their Wembley defeat. Gvardiol's attempted back-header went awry, allowing Alejandro Garnacho to score, a moment that continues to haunt him.
"I'm still angry about what I did," Gvardiol admitted. "I wanted to pass the ball back to Stefan. I didn't see him, I thought he was on the line and I just wanted to head the ball back. Sometimes we need to talk more, to communicate more."
He added, "I just want to win the Community Shield and show that we are ready for next season. If we win that game, it will be like a wind behind our backs, pushing us."
City, notorious for their slow starts to seasons, have only a handful of first-team players on their pre-season tour of the United States. Gvardiol and his international teammate Mateo Kovacic have recently joined Pep Guardiola's squad in New York ahead of their friendly against AC Milan on Saturday.
The £77 million signing from RB Leipzig initially struggled to adapt to his new surroundings last year. Guardiola even described the 22-year-old as "confused" by his deployment at left-back. However, Gvardiol's performances transformed in the final months of the campaign, culminating in a stunning run of form.
Playing as a left-winger who cut in from the flank, Gvardiol scored five goals in seven games during the season's final stretch, an impressive tally that matched Gabriel Jesus' league goalscoring output for the season.
"I woke up and I began to perform," Gvardiol said. "I knew I was making silly mistakes. I had to play more simply, and that's what I changed at the end of the season. I was just passing the ball to the first player I saw. I had a period without confidence, and that's normal."
Guardiola and Gvardiol engaged in numerous discussions about his conversion from centre-back to left-back, and he heads into the new season as a guaranteed starter.
"I believe that Pep chose me because of the way I am," Gvardiol said. "The position was something new for me, but I didn't complain. I took it as a challenge. It feels more comfortable now, definitely."
The Community Shield encounter promises to be a fascinating rematch, with Gvardiol keen to put his FA Cup final demons to rest and prove his worth to City.
