2023-05-16 23:43:34
The German midfielder is one of the centerpieces of Manchester City, at the time of receiving Real in the semi-final second leg of the Champions League.
It’s a bit like the engine of a car: it’s not what you notice first when you see the machine, but without it, it wouldn’t move forward. Ilkay Gundogan is more than a starter at Manchester City. “He’s one of the best players I’ve coached in terms of all-round baggage.“Praised Pep Guardiola earlier this month.
The German is a metronome, a midfielder who can organize the game, score, step back or lead the way. Like, perhaps, the one beyond the Champions League semi-finals, where City receives Real Madrid on Wednesday (9 p.m.) for the return leg, a week after a draw in Spain (1-1).
Gündogan, an ultra-complete milieu
Gündogan is one of the first names that Guardiola ticks when it comes to composing an eleven. He is the 3rd most used outfield player this season in City’s plethora of squads (3,507 minutes), behind Erling Haaland (3,755) and Rodri (4,104).
Ilkay Gündogan has made himself indispensable to Manchester City under the orders of Pep Guardiola. DYLAN MARTINEZ / REUTERS
Its main advantage? His wide range which allows him to take on different roles according to the needs of the team. “He can do anything and does it well, enjoyed Guardiola last Sunday. He has an incredible sense of goal, but he can also play sentry in front of the defence. He proved it a few years ago when Fernandinho was injured, he often played in this position.»
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Guardiola’s first signing
Physically solid without being a golgoth (1.80 m), Gündogan relies on other qualities. “I remember a match against Burnley, partage Guardiola. They abused the long balls and you would think you need a very physical sentry in these moments, but he is so smart and handles the pressure so well…Technically comfortable, Gündogan is always one step ahead. This was already the case when he joined City in 2016. He was then the first recruit of the Guardiola era, a few days after the appointment of the Catalan on the bench. He was “her” recruit.
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Former talent of Dortmund, where he was modeled by Jürgen Klopp (now in Liverpool), Gündogan burst the screen at City by an unsuspected quality: his finish. He scored 17 goals in 2020-21, 10 the following season and 9 in the current fiscal year. He scored twice against Leeds on May 6 (2-1) and another at Everton last weekend (0-3), including a direct free kick, and added an assist for Haaland. He marries perfectly the precepts of Guardiola, projects forward and rushes into spaces.
Shadow Captain
Despite an immense contribution in the game and honorable statistics, Gündogan does not make the headlines. His teammate, Bernardo Silva, does not understand that his name has never been in the list of 30 for the Ballon d’Or. “2-3 years ago, he deserved a lot to be there“, assured the Portuguese in the columns of France Football last week. A man in the shadows, Gündogan is nonetheless a leader. Last summer, after Fernandinho’s departure, the players elected him as City’s new captain.
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«He doesn’t talk much, but when he talks, everyone listens. This is the strength of a leader“, decreed Guardiola, who highlights the professionalism of the German. “He always gives his all in training, he is competitive, punctual, he dedicates his life to football“, assures the Catalan technician. Compliments rain down from Guardiola’s mouth with every question about Gündogan. And yet, the native of Gelsenkirchen has never been so close to a departure.
Towards a departure for Barça this summer
At 32 and as he completes his seventh season at City, Gündogan is at the end of his contract. The rumors that send him to FC Barcelona come to a head. According to the daily Sport the German reached a verbal agreement for a three-season lease at Barça.
Another living environment, another challenge for Gündogan. He has one last thing left in City, that of finally bringing the Champions League back there. “We won all the titles except this one“Admitted Guardiola Tuesday at a press conference. It would be a nice way to end the story.
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