Ilkay Gundogan's words on Enzo Maresca were significant, but so were the manner in which the former Manchester City captain gave them
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Ilkay Gundogan during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium on May 24, 2026 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Ilkay Gundogan was back at Manchester City in May
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As much as speaking to footballers is a great privilege, sometimes it can be a chore. Like any of us, those players with incredible talent can turn up for work and be happy to do an interview as part of their day but if they're not in the mood it can be difficult.
Ilkay Gundogan has always been one of the better ones at Manchester City, and when he turned up for the final game of the season against Aston Villa he was happy to have a quick catch-up after his year in Turkey. There were questions about his own future, a very funny anecdote about him biting Pep Guardiola's head off in training, and then Enzo Maresca was referenced.
It would turn out that Maresca was more than a month away from being confirmed as Guardiola's successor so Gundogan could simply have ignored any questions on the Italian. Except it was he who had brought him up, and there was a feeling that he actively wanted to talk about Maresca.
What he had to say was revealing: a player as brilliant and successful as Gundogan puts Maresca up there as one of the very best coaches in world football, not just for his tactical knowledge but his man-management. Both will be needed at the Etihad, yet Gundogan thinks a man he spent a year working with will be 'incredible' for City.
"As a coach I think he has amazing qualities," he said. "Maybe they are now obviously different than he was when he was an assistant - this is something I can't really judge - but you know that he's smart and he knows exactly what he does. As a human being he's unbelievable, honestly.
"In this football world I have not met many other people like him to be honest. I think he will be incredible and, similar to Pep, he has the intelligence to do the right decisions and to do the right tactical things. But then also the human side, to get everyone on board. I'm sure that probably 99% of the people inside the club will also be very happy."
Maresca will have to win over a dressing room that have been used to the magic that Guardiola frequently provided with his way of telling the players exactly what they needed to do. It isn't quite David Moyes coming into Old Trafford after Sir Alex Ferguson, but the new man is still fighting against a drop-off that everybody is waiting for.
Endorsements don't get much better than Gundogan's though, and the fact that the midfielder gave it freely without Maresca even being aware any interview was taking place confirms that it was genuine.
Even if it's safe to say that the jury will remain out on Guardiola's successor for some time, any City fans who listen to Gundogan and others who have played under Maresca should get all the reassurances they need.