Marc Guéhi says he has never considered himself a natural leader, insisting that he has simply gone about his business and remained true to himself as he takes on a greater leadership role at Manchester City.
The England defender, who joined City in January, has quickly established himself in the Blues’ backline. His performances have also earned him a place in Enzo Maresca’s leadership group alongside Rúben Dias, Erling Haaland and Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Speaking to UEFA ahead of City’s Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, Guéhi explained that he believes leadership starts with setting the right example rather than simply telling others what to do.
“The first thing is leading by example,” Guéhi said.
“If you’re asking your teammates to do something you should be able to do that things. So that is one of the biggest ones. Leadership comes in all different ways, different manors so it’s something that can be very diverse I think.”
“Authenticity is the most important thing”
For Guéhi, being a good leader also means being genuine. He believes teammates can recognise when someone is trying to be something they are not, making authenticity essential to earning their trust.
“I think it’s very important [to be authentic] because not just in football but in life I think people are good at noticing nonsense,” he explained.
“People can see right through you, they can tell when someone isn’t necessarily being themselves and I think the best thing in that role is that you are yourself and that you show the qualities that not only have got you to that position but if you are going through a period where you want to improve on that little aspect of leadership as well then people notice that. Authenticity is the most important thing.”
It is an approach that reflects how Guéhi says he has always conducted himself, rather than a personality he has deliberately adopted to fit his new responsibilities.
Asked whether leadership had come naturally to him, the defender admitted he had never really thought about himself in those terms.
“I’ve never thought of myself in that way. I think it’s always been other people have noticed and pick up on in me.
“I’ve always just gone about my business and the way I’ve done things. I’ve always tried to do things the way I like to do them and how I see fit. If that resonates with people or other people pick up on it then even better.”
Guéhi is not looking to change his approach simply because he has been recognised as one of the leaders in the squad. Instead, he wants to continue doing what has earned him that responsibility while learning how to develop further.
“I think the most important thing is to carry on doing what I have been doing because I’ve been nominated as one of the leaders of the group which means I’ve done something right.
“It’s something I want to grow into more and learn more about which I think is important. But I’d just say I’ve been myself the whole time.”
Guéhi on his relationship with Maresca
The defender also spoke positively about his relationship with Maresca, describing an environment in which he feels able to approach the head coach openly.
“I think we’ve got a very open relationship in terms of the fact I can go and talk to him whenever and whatever it may be about,” Guéhi said.
“And he’s very open with me and all the players. You can already tell his ideas but also his personality, how much of a winner he is and how much every single day means to him.
“I think that reflects in the group and how we train and how we approach every single game.”
Guéhi’s comments suggest that the manager’s mentality and daily standards have made an impression on him, particularly as he settles into life at City and takes on greater responsibility within the squad.
“I didn’t think I’d get this far”
Guéhi is also experiencing Champions League football for the first time, a milestone he admits he never really expected to reach when he was younger.
The defender acknowledged that nerves are a natural part of preparing for a major game, but said his confidence comes from knowing he has done everything possible before stepping onto the pitch.
“I think nerves are natural. So I’d say yes I get nervous before a game, but my mindset is as long as I have prepared and done everything I could before the game, whatever happens, happens,” he said.
“Of course we all want the outcome to be a win, we all want the outcome to be a good performance.”
For Guéhi, preparation means more than simply completing training sessions. He highlighted the importance of looking after his body, maintaining the right mindset and approaching each week with the required intensity.
“But if I know I prepared right during the week, if I’ve taken care of my body, I’ve had the right things, I’ve trained with the right intensity and the right mindset then I’m very comfortable with what happens after.”
Despite reaching one of the biggest stages in club football, Guéhi admitted that playing in the Champions League had not always been part of his expectations.
“It’s a lot of excitement,” he said.
“Fulfilment of a dream? I’ve never really dreamt of playing in the Champions League because I didn’t think I’d get this far to be honest. But I’m very very grateful and I just want my gratitude to grow even more by playing even more games and hopefully achieve something great with this football club.”
City’s ambition suits Guéhi
Guéhi knows that joining Manchester City means competing for the biggest trophies, and he is comfortable with the expectations that come with representing the club.
“The Club’s ambition is to win everything all the time. So that’s fine by me,” he said.
For now, the defender is focused on continuing to improve, contributing to the team and growing into the leadership role that others have recognised in him.
His message is straightforward: he does not believe leadership requires him to become someone different. By setting the example, remaining authentic and being willing to learn, Guéhi hopes to make an even greater contribution to City as he embraces the demands of Champions League football and the club’s ambitions.
