“He played a fantastic game in UCL” - Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola praises 33-year-old star after bouncing back from ‘worst game in nine years’
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed his delight at midfielder Ilkay Gundogan's performance in the Champions League. The Spaniard analysed his team's performance away to Slovan Bratislava in their second match of the European competition.
Gundogan returned to Manchester City this summer after spending a season in Spain with La Liga giants Barcelona. The 33-year-old German moved to the Catalan giants after seven trophy-laden years with Guardiola in England.
Gundogan made 304 appearances in his first spell with the club, finding the back of the net 60 times and setting up 38 goals. He won five league titles in seven seasons with Manchester City and also helped them lift the Champions League for the first time in the club's history.
Last season the former Borussia Dortmund star moved to Barcelona on a free transfer. However, after a trophyless season in Spain, he rejoined Manchester City on a one-year deal.
Gundogan got his first goal of his second stint at City in the club's 4-0 win over Sloval Bratislava. Speaking to TNT, Pep Guardiola praised his midfielder, saying that he showed his quality in the match.
"Ilkay Gundogan played at a level that we know he can do it. The game in Newcastle was not really good, maybe one of the worst I've seen of him in the last eight or nine years, then he played a fantastic game in UCL!," Guardiola said.
Manchester City were head and shoulders above their opponents, dominating them throughout the match. Gundogan opened the scoring in the eighth minute before Phil Foden doubled their lead seven minutes later.
Goals from Erling Haaland and James McAtee in the second half completed the rout and got the Premier League side their first win of the Champions League this season.
Ilkay Gundogan's underwhelmind Manchester City return
Prior to the Champions League match against Slovan Bratislava, Ilkay Gundogan had made six appearances but failed to impress. The 33-year-old came off the bench initially but started the last three matches but didn't make an impact on the scoreline.
Speaking to the press after seeing his side come away with just a point at Newcastle United, Guardiola called for patience from fans for Gundogan. He admitted that the German will take time to find his rhythm due to a lack of pre-season.
"It [Gundogan returning to form] will take time. He didn’t make a pre-season and needs to [get into] the rhythm - but he gives you something special but of course he will take it [time]," the Manchester City boss admitted.
Pep Guardiola will be heavily reliant on Gundogan after his star midfielder, Rodri, was ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury he suffered against Arsenal last month.