Pep Guardiola praises Ilkay Gundogan after Everton victory

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By Martin Graham | 15th May 2023

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has showered praise on Ilkay Gundogan after his incredible match against Everton which saw them stretch their lead at the top of the 2022-23 Premier League table to four points.

Manchester City are now in the prime position to win this season’s Premier League Winners title which will be their third straight victory. It is the first time since their city rivals Manchester United did it between 2007 and 2009.

Former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Gundogan has been important in the last stretch of the PL 2022-23 season Cityzens victory against Everton.

His performances are similar to what he showed in the last stretch of the 2021/22 season where City miraculously pipped Liverpool to the title on the last day of the season with one point.

City travelled to Goodison Park to face the relegation-threatened Toffees and to solidify their hold on the top of the league. Gundogan scored two sensational goals to sandwich Erling Haaland’s 36th effort of the season. His performance in the game earned high praise from Guardiola in his post-match comments.

Guardiola said that Gundogan, who was marking his 300th Man City appearance, could do everything on the football pitch. “Ilkay shows again and again the quality, his importance and his commitment to all of us and the club,” Guardiola said of the man of the match.

“Not just scoring goals, but he has his momentum because against Leeds he was the player and today again. He can do everything and he does it well.”

Guardiola also.praised his leadership qualities as captain of the Manchester City side. “He doesn’t talk much. But when he does, everyone listens,” said Guardiola. “This is the power of the leader.

“He’s shown it in every training sessions, arriving on time, living his job 24 hours and plays like he’s playing.

“He’s a guy close to the box with an incredible sense of goal and can do it as a holding midfielder defensively without a problem. He proved it years ago when Fernandinho was injured and he played a lot of times in that position.

“I remember against Burnley with the long balls it looks like you need a physical holding midfielder but he’s so intelligent and clever and handles the pressure really well.”

Gundogan, meanwhile, will be a topic of discussion at the Manchester City offices with the midfielder set for an exit after six seasons and 11 trophies with the club.

After his recent performances, they will be pushing harder than they have been to get the German to commit his future to the club.