TORR DE FORCE!
Ilkay backing City’s new boys to help steal crown
CHELSEA might be the Premier League’s current big spenders – but Ilkay Gundogan reckons that Manchester City’s new summer signings can help them snatch the title back from Liverpool.
Having surrendered their crown to Jurgen Klopp’s stars, City have made only a modest splash in the transfer market so far with the arrival of £21million winger Ferran Torres from Valencia and £41m defender Nathan Ake from Bournemouth. But Germany midfielder Gundogan likes what he’s seen from Torres and Ake, 25, and is confident that they will help City leapfrog Liverpool.
Gundogan faced tricky talent Torres, 20, as he made his international debut for Spain against Germany in the Nations League earlier this month.
He said: “Ferran had a great game that night and it’s exciting to see such a young player do so well in a game of that size, on his debut.
“It’s not easy to come in and perform at that level and I think he scored in his next game too, so it was quite a good start to his international career!
“He’s a young, exciting player who has already played lots of games for a top team like Valencia in a tough league like La Liga.
“He will bring something new here and hopefully create many chances for us during the season. And there is Nathan too, of course.
“He has been one of the top players for Bournemouth in the last few seasons and also plays for Holland, so his experience will be crucial.
“They are two great additions to our team and have looked good in training. I’m excited to play with them.”
Gundogan admits that City are still smarting from their 18-point title eclipse by Liverpool last season. But he insists they will not change their style as they try to reclaim their crown.
And as Pepe Guardiola’s stars prepare to face Wolves in their first match of the new campaign tomorrow, Gundogan says City will stick to the same formula – even without the wizardry of departed midfield icon David Silva, 34, who left on a free to join Real Sociedad.
“There are small things that we need to improve on”, he added.
“Ultimately we did not have the season we wanted last year.
“Liverpool deserved to win the title but we still won a trophy and came second in the league.
“We scored the most goals and Ederson got t he Golden Glove for keeping most clean sheets but we still need to improve.
“So we should not be looking to completely change the way we do things.
“We have a certain way of playing and that has worked really well for us over the last few years.
“Last season we did not get the results that we needed but we still had big wins during the season.
“We have to make a better season than last year but the differences will be small ones. David is such a special player and a legend at this football club.
“He had such a positive impact on English football.
“But we have a way of playing and we try to stick to it.
“David was an important player for us, but even last season he did not play every game so we are prepared to keep moving the club forward now that he is gone.
“It’s up to all of us t o perform without him.
“I don’t think t hat means us changing the way we play.
“But it is about making the most out of every opportunity.”
Gundogan, 29, has been glad of an extra week’s preparation after playing i n t he Champions League into mid-August .
Unfortunately the Etihad club slipped up against French underdogs Lyon in the quarter-finals – and former Borussia Dortmund star Gundogan is also wary of Wolves pulling off a shock tomorrow.
He said: “The extra week was very important. But we also know how tricky it will be against Wolves and we will need to be focused to get a positive result.
“They started really well last week and we have seen in other seasons that it isn’t easy to go there.
“It is up to us to make sure that we start as well as we can do and I think we are all ready for that now.”