As manager of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola made one of his best acquisitions.
Ilkay Gundogan is possibly the player that best represents Guardiola’s trophy-laden era at City since they joined the team within weeks of one another in 2016. He is dependable, versatile, and delivers when it counts.
And as City pushes for another Premier League crown and, perhaps, a trio of major trophies this season, the German midfielder’s significance to the team has grown.
Gundogan has played three games under pressure in three different positions over the previous week, and he has scored four goals.
Following his two goals in Sunday’s 3-0 victory at Everton, which put City on the verge of the title, Guardiola remarked of Gundogan, “He can do everything.”
Gundogan displayed his eye for goal against Everton while playing as an attacking midfielder just off Erling Haaland. He flicked the ball up to himself in the heart of a crowded area and skillfully poked a finish to give City the lead. He added a third goal with a carefree curled free kick.
He was more subdued and acted more like midfield anchorman Rodri five days earlier when City and Real Madrid drew 1-1 in the Champions League quarterfinal at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
And three days prior to that, in City’s 2-1 Premier League victory against Leeds, Gundogan took over for the rested Rodri as the deep-lying midfielder. Oh, and despite arriving late to join attacks, he also scored twice by converting edge-of-the-area finishes.
Guardiola stated that “He proves again, again, and again his quality and his value.” “His dedication to the club and to all of us.”
The following weeks will demonstrate how devoted City is to Gundogan.
At the conclusion of this season, the 32-year-old midfielder’s contract expires, and Barcelona has been mentioned as a potential destination.
Guardiola wants Gundogan to stay with the team since “nobody knows what’s going to happen,” according to the Spanish coach. Perhaps he remains. Hopefully.” – but the player’s age could be a problem, as reports claim he wants a two-year contract but City only wants to offer him a 12-month one.
Guardiola confronts the unsettling possibility of losing two of his most important players in the same winter due to uncertainties surrounding the future of Bernardo Silva, another crucial midfielder. Two players that are crucial to the way that City plays, with its stifling pressing defence and elegant attacking style.
Guardiola will undoubtedly insist on that before what may be his final season at City.
Guardiola’s go-to player in every situation is Gundogan in particular.
He spent the first four seasons primarily serving as a backup for a superb midfield that included Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne, and David Silva after signing from Borussia Dortmund for roughly 20 million pounds ($25 million). He really came into his own during the 2018–19 season when he replaced the injured Fernandinho as the anchorman in the closing months as City held off Liverpool to win a second league championship under Guardiola.
In contrast, Gundogan was frequently used as the false nine during City’s absence of a true striker in the 2020–21 campaign. During that time, he went on an 11-goal scoring streak in 12 games, helping the team secure a third Premier League championship.
He famously scored two late goals against Aston Villa on the last day of the previous season to guarantee that City once more defeated Liverpool for the championship. And this year, especially with Fernandinho gone, he has assumed the armband and a more prominent position within the team.
Guardiola remarked, “He doesn’t talk much, but when he talks, everyone listens. “This is a leader’s power. Every training session, he demonstrates leadership. Getting there on time and doing the work every single day. He performs in the present tense.
“He is a player who keeps it near to the goal and has a fantastic sense of goal. However, he has no trouble playing holding midfield defensively. During Fernandinho’s injury years ago, he demonstrated that. He is a person who excels at handling pressure.
Despite Gundogan’s previously unimpressive scoring record, Guardiola has praised him as one of the team’s greatest finishers and someone who can “have a coffee” before taking a shot.
In fact, his poise was just as evident in the first goal against Everton as it was in his technical abilities.
Nearly seven years ago, when City acquired Gundogan, they bragged about acquiring “an intelligent and versatile midfielder who can operate in a number of different roles.”
The group then stated, “I believe our supporters will appreciate his work ethic and technical proficiency.”
Gundogan has performed as promised.