Guéhi puts authenticity at the heart of his leadership role at Manchester City

Marc Guéhi says authenticity is one of the essential qualities of a leader at Manchester City. The England international joined City in January and quickly became a regular at centre-back. His performances earned him a place in the group tasked with helping guide the squad, alongside Rúben Dias, Erling Haaland and Gianluigi Donnarumma.

“The first thing is leading by example,” he said in an interview with UEFA. He explained: “If you’re asking your team-mates to do something, you should be able to do that thing.” In his view, leadership can take many forms, but it should rest on consistency between words and actions.

Guéhi also stressed the importance of staying true to yourself. “People can see right through you when someone isn’t really being themselves,” he said, describing authenticity as “the most important thing”. He said he had never consciously set out to become a leader: “I’ve never thought of myself in that way. It’s always been other people who have noticed it in me.” He has simply gone about things in his own way, and sees his appointment as recognition of the standards he had already set, as well as a chance to learn and improve. He wants to keep doing what he has been doing, grow into the role and remain himself.

The defender also described an open relationship with Maresca, City’s head coach. He said he could speak to him freely and portrayed him as open with his players. Guéhi added that Maresca’s ideas and personality, along with his drive to win, are reflected in the group, in training and in the way it approaches every match.

Guéhi previously captained Crystal Palace, but insists leadership was never a role he consciously pursued. He also admitted that, when he was younger, he had not imagined reaching the Champions League. “I’m very grateful and I want that gratitude to grow even more by playing more games and, hopefully, achieving something great with this club.” Manchester City’s ambition suits him: “The club’s ambition is to win everything all the time. So that’s fine by me.” Marc Guéhi, who has never regarded leadership as a natural quality in himself, is now determined to develop it further within Enzo Maresca’s group.