Ilkay Gundogan
Ilka Gundogan has urged his teammates to remain ‘calm’ as the season reaches a thrilling conclusion. Manchester City put one hand on the Premier League title on Sunday as two stunning goals from Gundogan and an Erling Haaland header saw them defeat Everton 3-0. With Arsenal losing 3-0 to Brighton afterwards, the Blues can win the Premier League this weekend if the Gunners lose to Nottingham Forest or then if they defeat Chelsea. The prospect of becoming just the second English team to win the treble is thrilling but Gundogan has warned City not to get ahead of themselves.
Ilkay Gundogan said: “To keep the group calm and not get too overexcited. It’s a game every three or four days so there’s not a lot of time to recover so we have to try to make the most out of it. We know in the final stages of the season we need every single player. It doesn’t matter who’s playing, it’s about the group and the support for each other. You always have to stay in the situation – take things minute by minute and second by second. We have to concentre on what we have to do and the job as a team in the best possible way and with that group we can be very successful. If we can keep the spirits in that way, it can be an amazing end to the season for us. The most important thing is the attitude and the confidence to trust in your abilities and to know when you do things properly and do what you’re able to do you are going to be on track sooner or later. It’s exactly what we’ve done in the last few weeks and it’s why we are winning a lot of games.”
Gundogan scored a fantastic free-kick at Goodison Park but it wasn’t even his best goal of the day after he showed remarkable improvisation to bring the ball down with his knee in the box before, with his back to goal, flicking it into the net for the opener. The captain has explained the inventive strike.
Ilkay Gundogan added: “I tried to make the run and it helped me a lot that Erling [Haaland] was able to attract both of the centre backs, so a space was created for me, and I could run through alone. Although the ball was a bit on the back of my run, I was able to turn, take a touch and I just tried to go for it. I didn’t see another option and I went for goal – it was more instinct. Even though I couldn’t see where the goal was, I had a good feeling of orientation. Luckily for me, it went in.”
