Manchester City’s instant hero Ilkay Gundogan has been speaking to German magazine SportBild about his move to the Premier League club.
The German midfielder signed for Manchester City whilst still recovering from a dislocated knee, and at the time a September return was looking at the most optimistic timeframe. Not only has Gundogan managed to return in September, but he’s hit the ground running, showing exactly why Pep Guardiola was so keen to sign him.
Gundogan’s move to Manchester City was an open secret for a while with meetings between the club and the player’s entourage snapped in Paris. Guardiola was clearly keen for his new club to get a deal done, and Gundogan has explained the manager played a big part in the move… because everyone rates him.
Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic didn’t have the best of relationships with Guardiola whilst the pair were at Barcelona. Ibrahimovic has talked about the difficult dynamics more than once, but also stated he rates Guardiola as a coach.
Gundogan told SportBild: “I know no one who does not say it (that Pep is a great coach). And it is exceptional when a player who is number 13, 14 or 15 in the squad, praises the coach to the sky.
“I have during my rehab met Ibrahim Affellay by chance, who at Barca also was not necessarily first choice under Pep. He said that he was the best coach by far… And also Zlatan Ibrahimovic has praised him as manager, although he was not on the same wavelength as a character.”
