Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan wants supporters to embrace Champions League football
Like manager Pep Guardiola, the midfielder is puzzled why fans boo the Champions League anthem
Sponsored by
ILKAY GUNDOGAN describes it as a pleasure and a privilege to be playing for Pep Guardiola.
But he believes Manchester City’s fans should feel the same way when it comes to supporting his manager’s bid to bring Champions League glory to the Etihad.
The £20.4million German midfielder, 25, was as puzzled as Pep as he made his debut in Wednesday’s 4-0 destruction of Borussia Monchengladbach.
For yet again the Eithad fans booed the Champions League anthem as they continued their hate campaign against Uefa.
The attendance figure was only 30,270 — with almost 1,000 of those away fans — although the gate was not helped by a 24-hour rain delay.
But Guardiola made a point of telling his new club’s supporters to get over their contempt for Europe’s ruling body.
Instead, he asked them to get behind him and his team.
Guardiola, who arrived from Bayern Munich, won the Champions League twice with Barcelona and in seven seasons has never failed to reach the last four.
Gundogan knows what real supporter backing is all about having spent five years in front of Borussia Dortmund’s amazing “Yellow Wall”.
He insists Guardiola is right to demand the same sort of backing and said: “The Champions League is one of the biggest club stages you can reach and I think for players it is an honour to be part of it.
“Certainly for me. You just enjoy being a part of it playing against the best clubs in Europe.
“All supporters who come along should enjoy it, too.
“I agree with the manager. The fans can always be the extra man, but in the end it is all about what happens on the pitch.
“Certainly against Barcelona, who we have in the group, it helps.” Gundogan may be a new arrival, but he has earned some street cred to back his views.
Watch ALL the goals from the Premier League before anyone else for FREE plus all the latest news, fixtures and results and live match commentary all on the go with the new Sun Football App – click here to download
Related articles
Gundogan has described his move as the "most exciting project" of his career
Unlike his team-mates — and many of his rivals across at Old Trafford — he has made himself a true City boy.
He has chosen to make his home in the centre of town as opposed to living in the expensive villages of leafy Cheshire.
After making a huge impression on his debut — having finally recovered from knee problems — he netted his first goal for the club yesterday in the 4-0 defeat of Bournemouth
Gundogan added: “I like the city, the people. I will stay in the centre.
“Pep’s arrival was the biggest factor in leaving Dortmund. He is a tough manager, but everyone wants to works with him.
“If you ask all the players they would be happy to do so, even if it was just for a few months.
“I am really happy to be part of his team, just try to learn every day from him. It is a privilege and an honour.
“This is perhaps the most exciting project of my career. Everything is developing.
“We just try to prove to others in the Premier League and to our rivals in Europe we are a really good team and we want to be successful.”
Gundogan cost less than a quarter of the world-record £89m Manchester United paid for Paul Pogba.
Yet Guardiola has already said his first-choice was always the German.
Gundogan added: “It’s really good to know he values me.
“If he didn’t like the type of football I play he wouldn’t have me here.
“But it is no pressure for me. Paul Pogba is probably under more pressure."