The German midfielder is set to play a more prominent role in Manchester City’s lineup in the coming months, especially with Rodri sidelined due to a serious injury suffered last week.
Ilkay Gundogan, playing as a defensive midfielder against Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday night, netted his first goal for City since rejoining the club, marking his first since his standout performance in the 2023 FA Cup final against Manchester United. His display in Slovakia, where the 33-year-old excelled, was a stark contrast to his disappointing outing in the Premier League against Newcastle United on Saturday, where City were held to a 1-1 draw at St James’ Park.
After City’s win in Slovakia, Pep Guardiola gave a candid evaluation of Gundogan’s recent form, acknowledging his below-par performance against Newcastle but praising his return to form against Slovan Bratislava.
“Tonight (Tuesday), he played at the level we know he’s capable of. It’s his strong mentality,” Guardiola said. “The game in Newcastle was not good, maybe one of the worst I’ve seen from him in eight or nine years!”
He added, “But these things happen—it’s about rhythm. That’s why he needs to play. He’s so intelligent in the holding midfield position, and he played a fantastic game tonight. Beyond the goal, his overall performance was excellent.”
The 4-0 win in Bratislava not only marked City’s first goals and three points in the UEFA Champions League group stage but also moved them up the standings. After a 0-0 draw against Inter Milan left them in 19th, this week’s victory puts them closer to securing automatic qualification for the knockout stages, with six games left to play.
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