Gündogan: “Pep taught me everything in football”

Ilkay Gündogan spoke in front of ESPN and claimed that he “didn’t know anything about football” before his time in Manchester City with Pep Guardiola, while also sharing positive words for his new head coach Xavi Hernández as “fantastic” and his new side as having a “great potential.”

Ilkay (32) joined Barcelona on a free transfer at the beginning of July after his deal with the Sky Blues expired.

Gündogan triumphed with 5 Premier Leagues, 2 FA Cups, 4 League Cups, and the Champions League being Man. City player, as he was part of the Sky Blues treble in the past campaign.

“Before I joined the Sky Blues, I thought I knew football,” the player shared with ESPN. “I was 25 or 26 years old; I have been around the game for a long time. I’d played a Champions League final. But now, standing here after 7 years of Guardiola’s school, I must admit that I didn’t know anything about the game in the past. His influence on the side and me personally was enormous.”

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Ilkay Gündogan says he “didn’t know anything about football” before playing for Pep Guardiola 💙 pic.twitter.com/kvLznWP4MG

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 25, 2023