Some 111 players have made more tackles than Marc Guehi in the Premier League this season. If the number disappoints the Crystal Palace centre-back, it may be because it isn’t higher. Guehi could have the eyes of a nation on him, likely to start at least one of England’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia in the absence of John Stones, pushing for a place in Gareth Southgate’s strongest side, but he craves a brand of anonymity. If he goes unnoticed, he figures he has probably done well.
In that respect, he draws inspiration from arguably the greatest defender of all. “I think [Paolo] Maldini said something like, ‘if you have to make a tackle, you weren’t in the right position in the first place,’” Guehi said. “I think if a defender can go in a game and seems to be doing absolutely nothing then he is doing absolutely everything right. Obviously there are times when you might have to make a last-minute tackle because of whatever is happening in the game but if I can avoid being seen in a game, as crazy as it sounds, I am doing my job.”
