Manchester City fans are seriously concerned by something Pep Guardiola has just said about Ilkay Gundogan.
Pep Guardiola brought Ilkay Gundogan back to Manchester City from Barcelona in the summer, after a one-year hiatus from The Etihad.
Gundogan has struggled for City this season though, and he has already been linked with a summer move to Galatasaray.
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The 34-year-old has been brilliant for City throughout the years, but time has clearly caught up with him.
Is he still good enough to produce the goods at the very highest level for Manchester City, or should he be moved on?
Man City fans worried after Pep Guardiola drops Ilkay Gundogan news
Well, it seems like Gundogan could be set for at least one more season at The Etihad.
Pep spoke about the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder during his press conference on Friday.
The Man City manager said he fully expects to ‘count on’ Gundo next season, as quoted by the Mirror:
“There are players here who are over 30 that will be part of the future of this club – except Kevin, where he and the club will decide. The others have contracts and next season I expect them to be here. They are going to help us? Yes or yes!“
“Next season there will be a lot of games and this lot of games you cannot do it just with new ones, or the old ones – you have to be all together! I count on Gundo, I count on Bernie, I count on all the players who have a Man City contract – they are there! No doubts about that. And they will be really important at the end of this season, and next season.“
Some Manchester Cuty fans are not happy one little bit with Pep’s comments though…
One fan was highly critical of the prospect of Gundogan being handed a new deal: “This is awful, pep keeps playing him and it’s boosting his self esteem but not his performances.“
Meanwhile, another City fan urged Gundo to leave the club on a high, rather than outstay his welcome: “This would have been good news if our season didn’t explode, now it’s looking like a threat I remember how hyped up we were to receive him back, as it stands, Galatasaray is interested in him, a less intense league would do him good. Better leave a hero than become the villain.“
A third Man City supporter wrote on X: “I can understand this season…but one more year of Gundogan….will erase what he did for the treble … he’ll leave like Kyle and Raz because the fans will get fed up.“
Whilst a fourth suggested that Pep needs to be ruthless with the 34-year-old now: “Bench him for the rest of the season! Club king but we gotta do whats best for the club.“
A fifth fan chimed in and simply said: “This is not good news.“
Meanwhile, a sixth supporter pleaded with the midfielder to consider leaving in order to help Pep with the much-needed summer rebuild: “Gundogan please consider our rebuild and sacrifice the contract.“
Ilkay Gundogan 2024/25 Premier League stats
The Germany international has failed to make much of an impact for City this season.
Here are some of his key stats, obtained by FBREF:
| Ilkay Gundogan 2024/25 Premier League stats | |
| Matches played | 24 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 2 |
| Progressive carries | 38 |
| Progressive passes | 95 |
| Pass completion | 89.% |
Those numbers prove just how ineffectual Ilkay Gundogan has been for Manchester City, since Pep Guardiola brought him back to the club.
It seems like extending his contract might be a big mistake, although it could be argued that his experience may well be vital in order to help smooth over the transition of the huge rebuild that lies ahead.
Only time will tell whether or not keeping Gundogan will be a smart decision.
