Euro glory Pep's City gift

ILKAY GUNDOGAN believes that Pep Guardiola’s tactical nous is the “gift” that can steer Manchester City to the top of European football.

The midfielder claims that City’s players are now seeing the light under the guidance of their stellar manager. City need a maximum of three more wins from eight matches to secure Guardiola’s first Premier League title – but the club’s ultimate ambition remains the Champions League.

Guardiola (left) has been a European champion three times with Barcelona, once as a player and twice as a

manager. Guardiola’s side face a quarter-final against Liverpool next month and midfielder Gundogan – a Champions League finalist under Reds boss Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund in 2013 – has no doubts that the club are moving towards the very top under Guardiola.

The Germany star said: “Pep Guardiola tactically brings a gift that is second to none in the world.

“When we go to the pitch and see what his tactics trigger, a light goes on.

“The way we see football is quite similar. He played in a similar position to where I’m playing now and he’s also a big fan of midfielders.”

Gundogan, 27, faces a fight to play if City do make the final in Kiev, with Fernandinho, David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne the first choices in Guardiola’s three-man midfield.

But he did feature when City beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup Final at Wembley last month and is eager for more.

He added: “I was lucky enough to play in the 2013 Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund.

“Unfortunately we lost, so obviously I can’t wait to try to get to a final and win it this time. That is my main target.

“We are in good shape to face the elite clubs in Europe but I wouldn’t say we are there just yet.

“We need to compete with teams such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich – the biggest teams – on a regular basis so it doesn’t make a difference who you get at this stage.”