{"id":579285,"date":"2021-01-18T05:31:24","date_gmt":"2021-01-18T10:31:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=579285"},"modified":"2021-01-18T05:31:24","modified_gmt":"2021-01-18T10:31:24","slug":"ilkay-gundogan-metronome-manchester-city-midfield","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2021\/01\/18\/ilkay-gundogan-metronome-manchester-city-midfield\/","title":{"rendered":"Ilkay G\u00fcndo\u011fan: The Manchester City Metronome in Midfield"},"content":{"rendered":"

Touch, pass. Touch, pass. Touch, pass. Pep Guardiola\u2019s football philosophy is well documented, but few players personify his ideals as much as Manchester City and Germany midfielder, Ilkay G\u00fcndo\u011fan<\/a>. A Bundesliga<\/a> winner and a Champions League<\/a> final goal-scorer, G\u00fcndo\u011fan\u2019s qualities in the centre of the park have seen him blossom into one of Europe\u2019s most complete midfielders.<\/p>\n

Ilkay G\u00fcndo\u011fan Provides Manchester City With Balance and Purpose<\/h2>\n

Guardiola’s First Project<\/h3>\n

Guardiola\u2019s first signing as Manchester City boss back in the summer of 2016, G\u00fcndo\u011fan may have arrived nursing a patellar dislocation, but, represented an integral piece in the jigsaw being built in East Manchester.<\/p>\n

In a mixed first season, the highs were high \u2013 a G\u00fcndo\u011fan brace earned Manchester City a landmark 3-1 Champions League victory against Barcelona<\/a> \u2013 and the lows were rock-bottom \u2013 a cruciate ligament injury ended the German\u2019s campaign in mid-December.<\/p>\n

But when G\u00fcndo\u011fan finally returned from another lengthy injury at the start of the 2017\/18 season, the ex-Dortmund<\/a> star flourished- making 48 appearances (all competitions) in a never seen before 100-point season for City, was made even sweeter for Ilkay G\u00fcndo\u011fan as his 167 passes against Chelsea<\/a> in March 2017 broke the record for the most completed in a Premier League<\/a> game.<\/p>\n

Another league title, a domestic treble and a further 50 more appearances followed the season after and by now G\u00fcndo\u011fan was beginning to display the potential shown during his Dortmund days. Possessing the ability to play a range of roles, be that the deepest man as a midfield anchor, or playing off a striker in a more advanced position, G\u00fcndo\u011fan represented the ideal Pep Guardiola midfielder. Despite showing class on the field, the squad depth in the City ranks made starts hard to come by.<\/p>\n

G\u00fcndo\u011fan Finding His Place Once More for Manchester City<\/h3>\n

2019\/20 signalled a transition for the Manchester City side that had dominated domestic football in the seasons prior: the arrival of Rodri<\/a>, a farewell campaign for David Silva<\/a> and the emergence of Kevin De Bruyne<\/a> as one of the most devastating central players in world football, cast doubt on G\u00fcndo\u011fan\u2019s place in the City side, with rumours he may be shipped on. He stayed, of course, and approaching the mid-way point in the 2020\/21 season G\u00fcndo\u011fan is playing some of his best football since joining the Manchester club.<\/p>\n

Critics have pointed to his shortage in goals and assist contributions during his time at City \u2013 just 25 in 119 Premier League matches \u2013 but his selfless nature on a football pitch provides an environment for others to thrive upon.<\/p>\n

A constant on most Manchester City team-sheets, G\u00fcndo\u011fan\u2019s high work-rate and capacity to retain the ball, with the help of midfield teammate Rodri, has helped build a solid defensive structure for the Guardiola’s side \u2013 City boast the Premier League\u2019s best defensive record. But it is his consistent ability to dictate the tempo of matches in a metronome-like way, which provides a composed balance to a side notorious for its attacking prowess.<\/p>\n

The spaces in which the German operates don\u2019t appear on the pitch for most \u2018average\u2019 footballers \u2013 comfortable picking the ball up in any area, facing any direction, G\u00fcndo\u011fan is never rushed, often assured and always looking to make a line-breaking pass. Touch, pass. Touch, pass. Touch, pass.<\/p>\n

The Perfect Midfielder<\/h3>\n

G\u00fcndo\u011fan\u2019s contributions are never spectacular, often going about his business in a manner which doesn\u2019t seek the headlines. Instead, his passes are purposeful and his shots often deadly. Having bagged six goals already this campaign, the dynamic German has already equalled his best-ever haul in a City shirt.<\/p>\n

His value to Guardiola is evident for all to see: when it became clear Thiago Alc\u00e2ntara<\/a> was up for sale at the end of the 19\/20 season, reports linking the eventual Liverpool<\/a> signing with City were quickly shut-down, such was the importance placed upon Manchester City and their number eight in G\u00fcndo\u011fan by Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff.<\/p>\n

Few players have received the same level of admiration from Guardiola as the 30-year-old midfielder has, with G\u00fcndo\u011fan being described<\/a> as ‘one of the best signings in this club\u2019s history’ following a cultured Champions League performance against Dinamo Zagreb. Compare his name to the greats that have pulled on the sky blue shirt of Manchester City in the past decade, and the magnitude of Guardiola\u2019s comments will sink in.<\/p>\n

When a David Silva shaped hole was left behind after the Spaniard’s departure, questions were posed about the capabilities of the Manchester City midfield. The control, assurance and incisiveness provided by Ilkay G\u00fcndo\u011fan has seen his reputation rise consistently, with his measured performances on the pitch seeing the German evolve into one of the Premier League\u2019s most coveted midfielders.<\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>