Pep Guardiola has named a surprising Manchester City star as his player of the season Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has named the Cityzens most important player of the season, and it is not Kevin De Bruyne or Phil Foden. PAY ATTENTION: Get N1000 free from Bet9ja The Spanish tactician praised his best player’s resilience, consistency, and game-changing influence in what has been a demanding campaign. Guardiola hails top player of the season According to Guardiola, it would have been "impossible to sustain" City’s season without Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol, who has quietly emerged as a pillar of consistency. While others have made headlines with goals and assists, Gvardiol’s ability to perform every three days without dropping his level has not gone unnoticed by the manager. Guardiola praised Gvardiol saying, “I think Josko [Gvardiol] has been the most important player that we’ve had this season. “Without Josko, it would be impossible to sustain [our season]. He’s reliable to play every three days. He’s been top. “When you’re reliable and available and fight and suffer and try again in the bad moments, that means a lot to me.” Guardiola reserves special praise for Doku and Gvardiol Belgian winger Jeremy Doku also received recognition from Guardiola for his recent form, with the manager admiring his energy and flair in the final third. Speaking on Doku, Guardiola said, “The impact is really good. His work ethic and impact, how he can change the game. It went really good. “The players who want to improve and who love to play, their focus, their spirit, they are better. Every season you play and are positive, you are a better player. In the final third, the ability to change directions is unbelievable.” Yet even with such attacking spark, it is Gvardiol who Guardiola views as the unsung hero of the season. As City prepares for a crucial clash against Southampton to secure their Champions League position, Guardiola will be looking to his players of the season to give the Cityzens a boost.