Pep Guardiola
Ilkay Gundogan, the former Manchester City midfielder, recently shared insights into his future aspirations and the challenges awaiting Pep Guardiola’s successor. As speculation mounts over who will fill the shoes of the iconic manager, Gundogan urged fans to welcome the new coach with an open mind. The German international, who played under Guardiola for several years, returned to Manchester for the final Premier League match of the manager’s tenure, reflecting on the transformative impact Guardiola had on the club.
Ilkay Gundogan said: “There are obviously a few names circling around, and we might be able to see who it’s going to be. They are different as human beings. He is also one of the players that Guardiola is closest to, given they were neighbours in the same apartment block for many years. The pair still speak on the phone and while Gundogan lapped up all the team meetings that Guardiola would do – even if they bored other players – one of his favourite memories of their time together is a bust-up on the training pitch.”
Ilkay Gundogan continued: “There are memories where I got into fights with him on the training pitch. As an example, with Leroy [Sane] we still talk about one situation that happened in training when he was still here. Pep was saying something and I screamed back at him but he was actually saying something nice to me and I lost my head and he was laughing about the whole situation, so we’re still sitting there and talking about these memories.”
Ilkay Gundogan added: “I have a laugh about it, there were just so many things happening, that’s why I think at the end of the day it’s more up to that human side of him as well. Obviously me being his neighbour, that was maybe also more opportunities to exchange conversations on that side by just having a glass of wine or champagne or whatever. So I really appreciated that and I really appreciate him as a man. As a manager we don’t need to talk about him, everyone loves it, but as a human being, for me, he’s an amazing human being.”
Gundogan, who recently joined Galatasaray, remains focused on his playing career but has also begun pursuing coaching qualifications, hinting at a potential return to Manchester City in a different capacity. He emphasized the importance of allowing Guardiola’s successor to bring their own style and ideas to the club, highlighting the need for patience and understanding from fans.
The transition from Guardiola’s era is anticipated to be one of the most challenging tasks for Manchester City’s hierarchy, including CEO Ferran Soriano and sporting director Hugo Viana. Gundogan’s reflections underscore the deep personal and professional connections he forged during his time at the club, as well as his enduring respect for Guardiola’s contributions.
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