Gundogan wants Blues to become record breakers and Yaya to get the perfect send-off
CITY have two more targets to hit this season … 100 points and giving Yaya Toure the send-off he deserves.
The Blues gave one of their most underwhelming displays of the season against Huddersfield, ahead of the Premier League trophy presentation.
And, after a Sunday night party to celebrate, they were back in training yesterday ahead of tomorrow night’s home clash with Brighton.
With the visitors now safe from relegation, there is little riding on the match – but Ilkay Gundogan has his eye on two things.
He wants the Blues to become the first top-flight team in English football history to top 100 points – and to do that they need to beat the Seagulls and then finish the season with a win at Southampton on Sunday.
That would also give them the best record of any top-division team in history, beating Liverpool’s 1978-79 tally of 30 wins and eight draws – and that was in a 42-match season.
“We will try, in the next two games, to break the records,” said Gundogan.
“Personally I would love to see us on 100 points at the end of the season.
“The game was quickly forgotten – the most important thing was the final whistle, the moment we could share with our fans and team-mates on the pitch.
“We want to create this moment again next season.
“We never cared a lot about the gap, or breaking records. We always focussed on playing our style, our
idea of how we want to win the games.
“That is what we appreciate the most, that we have won two titles playing beautiful football with so much joy, not just for the players but also for the spectators.
“That feels very special to me and is something we want to achieve again next season. So we are going to prepare.”
Gundogan was brought in two years ago as part of the process of easing Toure’s departure from the club – but the Ivorian’s enduring excellence saw him stay involved longer than expected.
Gundogan says his influence has still been keenly felt this season, even though the legendary figure – who turns 35 next week – has only played a handful of games.
“Over the last few years, Yaya has been one of the main faces of the club and he still is this season,” said the Germany international.
“He is a great guy, a great character, and he creates a good atmosphere in the group because he is such a special guy.
“This game will be to honour him, and hopefully we can win it and have one of the best possible moments with the team, the staff and the supporters. We are looking forward to it.”