‘ILKAY CAN DO EVERYTHING’
BY JOHN RICHARDSON
IF it is right that your first love never dies, then Ilkay Gundogan’s likely summer exit from the Etihad could break manager Pep Guardiola’s heart.
The Germany midfielder started Guardiola’s Manchester City era back in the summer of 2016, as the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss’s first signing.
At £20million, Gundogan’s fee barely registers among the £2billion of player investment made during the Sheikh Mansour era.
The City star spent four seasons at Borussia
Dortmund under Jurgen Klopp (below), who has described Gundogan as “one of the best players I’ve ever coached”.
In charge of Dortmund’s big rivals Bayern Munich, Guardiola got to witness first-hand the qualities of a player, now 32, who often goes under the radar when it comes to making the headlines.
But when there is a big season-changing game, you can be assured that Gundogan’s name will be one of the first on the team sheet.
His unassuming leadership qualities might not grab the imagination alongside the much-publicised deeds of Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Rodri and, in the midweek demolition of Real Madrid, Bernardo Silva – but they are certainly appreciated by his manager.
“He can do everything. And everything he does, he does well,” is Guardiola’s emphatic remark about a player he has now had under his command for seven years.
Sadly, for his adoring manager, unless there is a change of attitude among the Etihad hierarchy, the quietly spoken German with Turkish parents will move on at the end of the season, almost certainly to Barcelona.
Unlike City, who have offered only a new one-year contract when his current agreement runs out at the end of next month, the newly crowned Spanish champions are prepared to entice Gundogan to the Nou Camp with a two-year deal.
What is certain is that he still has a major role to play in the finale of City’s season, as they return to Premier League duty against Chelsea today, then look ahead to two finals – the FA Cup and the club owners’ Holy Grail, the Champions League.
After all, the midfielder has previous when it comes to delivering the big finish.
Who can forget his dramatic entry off the substitutes bench on the final day of the last Premier League campaign, scoring twice as
City came back from 2-0 down against Aston
Villa to win 3-2, and edge out Liverpool for the title?
Or his magical finish for his first in another double, in the recent 3-0 victory at Everton?
Liverpool boss Klopp has certainly not forgotten the player who helped Borussia Dortmund win the Bundesliga in 2011-12, the last time they ruled the roost in Germany.
“In that season, he was unbelievable,” Klopp recalled with relish. “He was playing very much as he’s playing now.”
Gundogan’s standing among his team-mates is illustrated by their votes, which led to him being handed the club captaincy.
Guardiola added: “He doesn’t talk much, but when he talks, everyone listens. This is the power of the leader.”
One who will be missed when he goes, especially by his doting manager.