Gundo: No rift in Blues camp, we all know our jobs
ILKAY Gundogan has played down talk of player unhappiness at City.
Both Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling have played their way back into Pep Guardiola’s plans this season after struggling for game time last year, and the Blues are reaping the rewards, with the duo playing key roles in their recent winning run.
Sterling, whose City future has been the subject of speculation, scored the equaliser in the comeback win over PSG in the Champions League, days after opening the scoring against Everton.
Meanwhile, Bernardo has been one of the stand-out performers for the Blues this season in a variety of roles, including a man-of-the-match performance against Chelsea in September.
Gundogan, who scored in the win over West Ham as the champions moved into second in the table, sympathises with any team-mate not picked, but underlined the realities of playing for a top club.
“The only thing you can do is try to support them as much as possible, to help them to train well,” he said.
“In our team the players know their responsibility, they know we are all professionals even though we face difficult periods in our career, we need to be able to deal with that.
“All of us had to do it in our careers. It’s something you have to get used to and deal with - it’s disappointment and frustration.
“But they both feel very comfortable in the team with the players we have here.
“There’s a lot of good friendships and I don’t think it was ever an issue. The other players don’t feel they have to do much, we knew they had enough quality to come back.”
Gundogan also says Kevin de Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden know they are not guaranteed
starts upon their returns from injury.
De Bruyne has been out after testing positive for Covid, while Grealish suffered a knock while on international duty and Foden picked up an injury against Everton.
Despite the absence of their playmaker and two wingers, Pep Guardiola’s side has shown no signs of slowing down.
Grealish was almost an everpresent before his injury, having arrived in the summer for £100m, but Gundogan says every player knows they must re-earn their place in the team.
“It just shows we have a lot of quality and that there are a lot more things to come from us. Of course the challenge, the rivalry between those players is always a benefit for the team,” Gundogan said.
“Everyone knows they have to be at their best to get into the first XI and also when everyone is fit, you have to accept that you might have to sit on the bench as other players are there who have the quality to play.
“If they train well every single day on the training pitch, that’s also crucial.
“So we just don’t need 11 great players on the pitch. We also need the great ones who sometimes need to be outside.
“It’s not always easy to accept that role but it’s crucial to win the biggest games and titles.”