Pep Guardiola hails Ilkay Gundogan as ‘one of the most intelligent players I have ever trained’

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has heaped praise on Ilkay Gundogan, calling him ‘one of the most intelligent players I have ever seen’.

Guardiola says he was ‘delighted’ with Gundogan’s Champions League performance against Borussia Monchengladbach on Tuesday – having scored City’s second goal to help them win 2-0 and progress to the last eight of the competition.

Guardiola believes Gundogan has ‘always had a sense of where the goal is’ and that he possesses a unique ‘quality’ that sees him score ‘every time he arrives near the goal’.

Pep Guardiola was ‘delighted’ with Ilkay Gundogan’s Champions League performance

Speaking after City’s Champions League triumph, Guardiola singled out Gundogan saying: ‘He’s always had a sense of [where the] goal [is], playing for [Borussia] Dortmund.

‘He’s an incredibly nice guy. He’s one of the… I will never forget the time we spent together. As a player he is one of the most intelligent, wisest players I have ever trained, I have ever seen.

‘This season, every time he has arrived near the goal, he has scored the goal, he has this quality but not just that. I’m so delighted with the performance from Ilkay again and from all of the team.’

Gundogan scored City’s second goal against Borussia Monchengladbach to progress through

Guardiola says he has a unique ‘quality’ that sees him score ‘every time he is near the goal’

Gundogan was Pep Guardiola’s first ever signing at Manchester City and went on to become a key member of the squad – winning the Premier League titles since. 

Four years on since arriving at the Etihad, Gundogan is still providing a series of stellar performances for City.

 He has scored 12 goals in 23 Premier League appearances and three in seven Champions League outings. 

Gundogan has also registered three assists for his team-mates during the 2020-2021 campaign. 

As a result, the 30-year-old is now being touted to win the FA Player of the Year award.