Ilkay Gundogan
Manchester City will assess Ilkay Gundogan ahead of the Everton game after the midfielder complained of tightness in his groin during the 3-0 win over Tottenham. Guardiola said that the player will be checked over, but dismissed the idea of resting him at Everton in midweek if he is fit enough.
Pep Guardiola said: “We will see tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. He told me it was tight and he is intelligent to see it but we are going to see. If he is fit, he’s going to play. I said many times he could play as a false nine and people laughed at me and I understood that but he has a sense to arrive at goal. It was a clear penalty and after he had two goals, he had the right tempo to arrive there. He is so good in those terms. I’m more than delighted for his performances. He won Player of the Month last month and if he continues playing this way in February he is going to win it again.”
City’s manager also spoke about Sergio Aguero, who made his first matchday squad in over a month but did not take part in the warm-up and was not used off the bench despite the contest effectively-being over in the closing stages.
Pep Guardiola said: “He’s okay. Yesterday he made an incredibly tough training session and I said ‘come to the team’. He struggled with his Covid situation and step by step, as soon as he can get his physical condition and the game provide us to let him play he will play.”
Gundogan scored two goals, including one where he left Spurs defender Davinson Sanchez on the floor, as Pep Guardiola’s winning machine brutally beat Jose Mourinho’s Spurs to notch their 16th consecutive victory in all competitions. But the German midfielder was substituted in the second half after feeling something wasn’t quite right.
