LIVERPOOL
next season it’s an important target to find. He’ll be 34 and he cannot play every few days.
“But Gundogan played the last two games like a holding midfielder, he had more space than usual but he was so clever.
“He made an incredible assist and a lot of passes before the finish. His quality is incredible, we knew that. When he’s fit, he’s an incredible player.”
Gundogan’s career at the Etihad has been interrupted by two injuries, one serious.
A cruciate ligament rupture kept him out for eight months in 2017 and a hamstring complaint for a further two months this season.
But the German has proved his wellbeing in the cup competitions over the past week and looks set for a crucial role, with City still alive in four competitions over the next four months.
“He can play that holding midfield role, he has the quality and the vision to pass. When he’s close to the box he arrives in the right tempo and the right moment to score a goal,” said Guardiola.
“And I think you can’t find one player in Europe in that position who is more clear in their passing than Gundogan, and we have him.
“That’s why in the transfer window when you ask me and I say no it’s because I know the players and the quality, and know exactly what they can give us until the end of the season.” WINNING AGAIN, seven points clear again and Mo Salah scoring again.
Reports of Liverpool’s title wobble appear to have been greatly exaggerated. If anything, this win at Brighton was the kind of ugly, gritty victory of which champions are made.
Let’s not kid ourselves, the knives had been sharpened after that under-strength Reds side were dumped out of the FA Cup last Monday night by Wolves.
Brighton, who had taken a point off Arsenal and beaten Manchester United at the AMEX, had lost just six of their previous 29 home games.
Defeat was not an option for Jurgen Klopp and his men with Manchester City resurgent and a widespread belief that,
We know it’s going to the wire
somehow, Liverpool had been arrogant in disrespecting the FA Cup.
So after a triumph soaked in commitment and focus, leftback Andy Robertson was absolutely right in his assessment that if Liverpool do finally end their 29-year title wait, they will look back at this victory as a crucial, defining moment in their season.
“Whoever wins the league will look back on some games and go, ‘Do you know what, we probably weren’t at our best there. That was probably one that helped us turn one point into three or zero into one’.
“If we manage to do it, I’m sure we’ll look back on this game as one of them.
“It’s the winning mentality and finding a way. That’s what all the teams are doing now. City haven’t played their best