Ikay Gundogan is having one of his best seasons as a professional footballer. The German International has battled with injury since his move from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City in the summer of 2016.
His move to Manchester City coincided with Manchester City’s acquisition of Pep Guardiola as manager.
Moreover, rarely had he featured for the club before he suffered a knee ligament injury on 14th December 2016.
That injury kept him out of the team for the remainder of the season and denied him the chance to fit into Guardiola’s style.
The seasons after were not too dissimilar as damages threatened to adjust the direction of his city career until now.
His stop-start seasons ensured that other players took center stage at City.
The likes of Kelvin De Bruyne, Fernandinho, David Silva, Sterling, and Sergio Aguero.
Not since his time under Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund has the spotlight been on the German International.
Recently, Pep Guardiola – who with respect to soofootball is one of the average Footballers who became World Class Coaches – sees Gundogan as a crucial part of his City team.
Gundogan was named in City’s starting X1 in 14 consecutive Premier League matches (the most in his Manchester City career till date) between mid-December 2020 and the end of February 2021.
This period coincided with the beginning of the City’s record-breaking run of 28 matches unbeaten.
Certainly, a brace against Premier League rivals Liverpool made sure that City established their top spot on the league table.
He followed up that act with another brace against Tottenham in the next Premier League fixture.
In a team with so many disturbing talents like City, Ikay Gundogan sits top of the team’s Premier League goalscorers chart as of match week 30 with 12 goals.
Also, his 15 goals in all competitions as of 17th March 2021 are more than any of his teammates at City or any German in Europe’s top 5 leagues.
In fact, His 15 goals in all competitions so far are more than his total goals in the past 2 seasons (11 goals) at Manchester.
Putting this in view, in arguably his best season at Dortmund where he scored his team’s only goal in their 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Uefa Champions League final, Gundogan only managed 4 goals.
He is the first midfielder in Europe to score 10 league goals from open play this season.
There are not many footballers who can play anywhere in the midfield position like Gundogan. As Guardiola who himself was a midfielder puts it “He (Gundogan) is one of the most brilliant, wisest players I have ever taught, I have ever experienced.”
Such brilliance has seen him arrive at the opposition 18-yard box to score a goal from his midfield position at different times.
Gundogan has been so impressive this season that he has come forth as the favorite for the Premier League player of the season award and is being stated amongst contenders for the Ballon d’Or award too.
If Manchester City is to obtain the Quadruple (The English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabo Cup) this season, they must accomplish all they can to keep Gundogan fit and in this vesicating form.
