Ilkay Gundogan says City’s mental strength and professional desire can prove key in helping inspire a swift return to winning ways.
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City play host to Nottingham Forest on Wednesday evening seeking to check what has been a tough and testing run of form.
A sequence of six defeats and a draw allied to a series of injuries to key personnel has served to put the brakes on what had been a positive first three months to the season.
However, the 34-year-old, who made an emotional return to City in the summer after a year spent playing at Barcelona, is adamant the formidable mindset that has underpinned the Club’s remarkable record of success in recent years can help inspire a quick turnaround in form.
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“It is difficult to answer because we haven’t really had this in all of the years we have been together,” the German midfielder reflected on the recent run.
“Of course, we had games and periods where we dropped a few points in a row, and we had to overcome these difficulties.
“We have to stick together right now. It is not a question of quality at the end of the day. We have showed over the last few years that this team is full of quality players.
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“I think the mind plays a big role, but we have to use that in terms of getting on the training pitch and transferring that into work, desire and determination to go again and make things better because it is the only way out of the situation.
“Once that positive energy is created, there is no doubt things are going to be better again.”
Gundogan’s return to the Etihad in August saw him reunited not only with many familiar team-mates but also manager Pep Guardiola, who made him his first signing after arriving to take charge at City in the summer of 2016.
Gundogan went on to become a key component of a succession of stellar City sides fashioned by Pep, with his first seven-year spell at the Etihad capped by captaining the Club to Treble glory in the 2022/23 season.
And Ilkay admits it feels extra special to be working under the tutelage of the boss once again.
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“We have a very strong relationship, and we appreciate each other a lot,” Gundogan added.
“We have worked for seven years in my first spell and now again, so soon it will be eight years.
“In those eight years we have experienced a lot of ups, but also some downs which is part of the game and moments to appreciate as well.
“That creates a strong bond, not just with him but the players I have played with throughout the years.
“You live moments you will never live again in your life.
“That makes all these relationships even more special.”