Pep Guardiola has shared his early thoughts on Marc Guehi after the defender’s first match as a Manchester City player against Wolverhampton in the Premier League.
The City manager compared Guehi to Ruben Dias and spoke warmly about the calm and leadership the England international has already shown at the club.
Guehi completed a £20m move from Crystal Palace earlier this week and signed a deal that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium for the next five-and-a-half years.
Despite having very little time to settle in, the 25-year-old was quickly thrown into action and made his City debut in the 2-0 Premier League win over Wolves.
That victory was an important one for Guardiola and his team. City had taken just three points from their previous four league games and were under pressure after a difficult start to 2026.
The win over Wolves steadied things and lifted City to within four points of leaders Arsenal, who are due to play Manchester United on Sunday.
Guehi only joined full training after City returned from their Champions League defeat by Bodo on Thursday. Even so, Guardiola said it did not take long for him to see what kind of player Guehi is and what he could bring to the team in the years ahead.
Guardiola sees leadership and calm from day one
Speaking after the Wolves game, Guardiola made it clear that Guehi’s reputation had arrived before him.
As Palace captain and a regular international, the defender was already well known to City’s coaching staff.
“It’s not necessary to tell [you] about Marc and who he is. The captain from Crystal Palace, national team for your country and he knows everything, you had a feeling from day one,” Guardiola said according to Manchester Evening News
What impressed Guardiola most was how quickly Guehi fitted in, despite the lack of time on the training pitch.
City’s manager explained that some players show their qualities straight away, not only with the ball but also in how they move, communicate and understand the game.
Guardiola then compared Guehi to Ruben Dias, who made a huge impact after joining City from Benfica in 2020 and quickly became a leader at the back.
“I remember Ruben [Dias] had incredible focus in every action and winning duels.
“With the ball he had incredible composure. We didn’t train anything yet but I have the feeling with the people in the middle move a little bit better. They have not come for six months, they’ve come for many years.”
For Guardiola, this sense of long-term thinking is key. City do not just sign players for a quick fix. They look for footballers who can be trusted over many seasons and who can grow with the team. In Guehi, Guardiola believes the club have found exactly that.
“The transfer is a really good prize and they are the perfect age 25, 26, so an incredible signing for Manchester City for many years.
“He’s a guy you can rely on. You see it, in two training sessions, how he moves how he talks, how he sees what happens to surround him, reading the situations. Really good.”
These comments underline why City moved quickly to bring Guehi to the club. At 25, he is entering his prime years and already has strong Premier League experience.
At Palace, he was a regular starter, a captain and often one of the team’s standout performers.
Big weeks ahead as City balance league and Europe
Despite his impressive start, Guehi will not be available for City’s next match in Europe. He is unable to play in Wednesday night’s Champions League game against Galatasaray.
That match is crucial for City, who must win if they want any chance of qualifying directly for the last 16 without having to go through a two-legged play-off.
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City’s European campaign has been challenging so far, and injuries have added to Guardiola’s problems.
Several key defenders are currently sidelined, including Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias and John Stones. Their absence has limited Guardiola’s options and forced him to be flexible with his back line.
While Guehi cannot help in midweek, he is expected to play an important role in the Premier League in the coming days.
With the injury list still long, he is almost certain to return to the starting XI for next Sunday’s league match away at Tottenham.
That game will be another tough test. Spurs are strong at home and often play with pace and intensity, especially against the top teams.
As Guardiola compared Guehi to Ruben Dias due to their similar qualities, the match would be another chance for the Englishman to show his value in a high-pressure environment and to continue building his understanding with his new teammates.
