Manchester City cruised past Leicester City as they won 2-0 and took another step in their quest for Champions League qualification next season.
Goals from Jack Grealish and Omar Marmoush meant Pep Guardiola could sit back and relax from the stands while serving a one-match touchline ban as his City side purred for most of the contest.
Manchester City were in the groove from the get-go, scoring within two minutes as Grealish rounded off a blistering move after Jeremy Doku dispossessed Wilfried Ndidi in the middle of the park.
Marmoush added to the Foxes’ woes with a tap-in after a howler from Mads Hermansen as he gifted him a goal but perhaps one of the most pertinent talking points was Ilkay Gundogan’s classy display. Gary Lineker claimed Gundogan’s legs had gone but that certainly did not seem like the case against Leicester as he ran the show.
Gundogan could join Galatasaray but for the time being, he looks determined to step up for his side as Manchester City fans lauded their former captain for putting in his best performance of the season against Leicester City.
Man City fans say Ilkay Gundogan was unreal vs Leicester City
One Manchester City fan hailed Gundogan’s performance against Leicester by simply writing: “I am watching treble-season Gundogan, man.”
Another City supporter raved about the German’s renewed sense of energy against Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side: “Where did Gundogan get his legs from today? He was pressing like some 25-year-old prime player.”
A third Manchester City fan feels that due to playing alongside an athletic midfielder like Nico Gonzalez led to Gundogan shining against Leicester: “We need to talk about Gundogan with legs and Gundogan without legs as two different players. Quality is still valuable with Nico alongside him.”
A fourth Sky Blues supporter agreed, adding: “Been brilliant this season in games where there’s actually a good balanced side. Him and Nico are such a good double pivot. Gundogan, Rodri would’ve been elite again this season. Glad he’s here for another season.”
A fifth City supporter claimed Gundogan can play for three more years at the highest level based on his latest showing: “Gundo has been showing the Gundo of old! He can play three more years from what I’ve seen! He has it in him!”
Finally, a sixth Manchester City fan bit back at Gundogan’s sceptics while waxing lyrical about his performance against Leicester: “I absolutely detest seeing some of you refer to what Gundogan can still do in the past tense. It infuriates me. Barring athleticism and physicality, his footballing intellect remains far superior to most. A truly divine orchestrator of the game. Greatest conductor.”
Ilkay Gundogan stats during Man City vs Leicester City
Grealish described Gundogan as a Manchester City legend when he left the club to sign for Barcelona in 2023 and upon his return, it must have been unpleasant to be on the receiving end of widespread criticism.
The Premier League winners’ squad’s average age has been pinpointed as a reason for their struggles this season but Gundogan doesn’t believe Manchester City’s squad is too old — despite him being 34.
However, Gundogan also managed to let his foot do the talking as he impressed against Leicester City and merited the appreciation Manchester City fans gave him — as the statistics suggest.
| ILKAY GUNDOGAN STATISTICS VS LEICESTER CITY | |
| CHANCES CREATED | 2 |
| ACCURATE PASSES | 86/95 (91%) |
| TOUCHES | 111 |
| PASSES INTO THE FINAL THIRD | 11 |
| DUELS WON | 5/8 |
The former Borussia Dortmund maestro put in a truly complete display — rolling back the years as he created two chances, completed 86 out of 95 passes, took 111 touches of the ball, made 11 passes into the final third and won five out of eight duels in what was a blueprint for how any central midfielder should aspire to play.
