Manchester City made an eye-catching move during the previous summer transfer window.
Specifically, just one year after seeing him join Barcelona as a free agent, City brought Ilkay Gundogan back to the Etihad Stadium on a free transfer.
Txiki Begiristain described Gundogan’s return to City as being “fantastic news for everyone” at the club.
Despite that, with the honeymoon period of the German’s return to Manchester now over, the midfielder and the rest of his City teammates have hit a poor run of form.
Prior to City’s midweek match against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, the Blues have lost six of their seven previous matches across all competitions.
Now though, Gundogan has shed some behind-the-scenes light on what his relationship is like with the man who helped bring him back to City in the summer – Pep Guardiola.
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (R) celebrates with Manchester City's German midfielder #19 Ilkay Gundogan and team mates after the...
Photo by JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images
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Ilkay Gundogan addresses Pep Guardiola relationship amid tough Man City period
When asked about his working relationship with Guardiola by City’s in-house media (via the official Man City website), Gundogan gave this response.
He said: “We have a very strong relationship, and we appreciate each other a lot. 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 with 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.”
How has Gundogan fared since making his Man City return?
This season has seen Gundogan feature in 18 matches for the Blues across all competitions prior to the Forest match.
However, the midfielder has only been able to deliver two goals – both of which have been in the Champions League – and one assist which came during the 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth last month.
In fact, the midfielder’s overall performances have come under scrutiny in recent weeks, with Paul Merson saying that “struggling” Gundogan has looked “nowhere near the player he was before” making his return to the Etihad.
With the veteran now sharing how strong his relationship is with Guardiola after spending such a long time together at City, the main thing everyone at the club will want to see is what Gundogan and the rest of the players deliver on the pitch.
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