Manchester City fans voiced their frustrations with one particular first-team player following the club’s 2-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Tottenham. City manager Pep Guardiola had fielded a mostly second-string lineup at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium due to an ongoing injury crisis.
In his post-match interview, Guardiola highlighted the limited squad options, noting that City currently have only 13 fit outfield players available, alongside goalkeepers Ederson and Stefan Ortega. Savinho, who was in the lineup, also appeared to sustain a potentially serious injury, which added to the disappointment as City exited the Carabao Cup at the last 16 stage.
Despite these setbacks, fans were still critical of the team’s performance, with one player in particular—captain Ilkay Gundogan—receiving significant criticism. Gundogan started but was substituted at halftime, which sparked a wave of reactions online. One fan remarked, “No wonder Barca wanted Gundogan off the books.” Another commented, “Gundogan and Foden… we need you to step up in the next three games badly. Especially Gundogan, who had a poor game before he got subbed at halftime.”
Other fans shared similar sentiments, with one stating, “Unfortunately, Gundogan is not the same player,” and another suggesting, “Nunes should be starting over Gundogan in midfield when Doku and Grealish return.” A final fan noted, “Not much to take away from that game with so many youngsters playing, but the two main worries were Gundogan’s performance and Savinho’s injury.”
After rejoining City on a free transfer this summer following a season with Barcelona, the 34-year-old has been a consistent starter and recently scored his first goal of the season in City’s 4-0 Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava. However, with options like Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva available, it remains uncertain if Gundogan will feature in City’s upcoming Premier League away game against Bournemouth on Saturday.
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