PEP: GUNDOGAN CAN SOLVE MY STRIKER CRISIS!
PEP GUARDIOLA offered up midfielder Ilkay Gundogan as a surprise candidate to aid his side’s striker crisis during the end to this season. Sergio Aguero was in Barcelona having surgery on a meniscus problem in his left knee yesterday and faces a race against time to prove his fitness when the Champions League returns in August. Gabriel Jesus will lead the line in his absence, but given the frenzied fixture list, Guardiola will enlist midfielders to operate in the ‘false nine’ role in some matches. Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva are prime candidates — but Gundogan has emerged as a left-field option ahead of tonight’s game at Chelsea. ‘We have no doubts about Gabriel but we play a lot of games in a short period of time for recovery, with games every three days,’ said Guardiola. ‘Raheem can play in this position, even Gundogan and Bernardo. Not like a main target but we can use them. ‘Ilkay can play in many, many positions. The players who understand the game, and they are so much smarter, they understand how to play football, they can play all the positions. ‘Bernardo played in that role at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup and had an incredible performance when we won 3-1.’ Sterling has operated as a central striker before, although relishes his role on the left of a front three. Gundogan is an intriguing prospect for Guardiola, who has promised tonight’s team selection will be determined by who he wants to face Newcastle in the FA Cup on Sunday. City are prioritising the knockout competitions from now on, with a third Premier League title beyond them. Gundogan was one of Guardiola’s first signings at City in 2016, and the Catalan boss believes the midfielder is capable of filling in for City’s all-time leading goalscorer. ‘Of course the impact of losing Sergio is big,’ added Guardiola. ‘To win the Champions League you have to arrive in the right moment in the best condition. Sometimes we have seen at other clubs that other players make a step forward to solve the situation.’ City are coming up against a Chelsea side with renewed spending power and Guardiola believes both teams have challenged ‘the elite’ in the last decade or so. ‘It was just United, Liverpool and Arsenal to win the titles before Roman Abramovich took over,’ he said. ‘It was uncomfortable for the Premier League. After Sheik Mansour took over here it was the same. It was — and is — uncomfortable for the elite.’