Paul Merson claims ‘struggling’ Man City star looks ‘nowhere near’ the player he used to be

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Manchester City are looking to add more silverware to their cabinet this season.

In his ninth season at the Etihad Stadium in charge of the Blues, Pep Guardiola’s side are currently second in the Premier League table and in the knockout phase of the Champions League table.

Following the final international break of 2024, City will be resuming their domestic campaign with a home clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Ahead of this big game, a pundit and former Premier League star has shared his thoughts on what he’s seen from one particular figure in the City squad so far this season.

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Paul Merson questions ‘struggling’ Ilkay Gundogan

While previewing City’s match against Tottenham in his latest column for Sportskeeda, Paul Merson said this about what he’s seen from Ilkay Gundogan in particular this season.

He said: “Manchester City not being their usual self is entirely down to Rodri’s absence and not because Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan are firing.

“Rodri moves the ball quickly and that opens up space, City are missing that now. But I certainly think Gundogan looks nowhere near the player he was before, he is struggling.” 

Jamie Carragher has also criticised Gundogan

Merson isn’t the only pundit to make a similar observation about the German, as Jamie Carragher questioned Gundogan by saying this about him and what he’s delivered for City this season.

He said: “Gundogan has not looked like the same player who left City for Barcelona.”

As Guardiola’s first signing at City, Gundogan initially joined the club back in 2016. After spending seven years with the Blues, the midfielder joined Barcelona as a free agent in the summer of 2023.

Then with just one season under his belt in Spain, Gundogan returned to City last summer on a free transfer.

Since then, the 34-year-old has appeared in 15 matches across all competitions, starting 10 of them and delivering one goal and one assist in the process.

With 10 Premier League appearances to his name in this campaign, Gundogan has earned himself an overall performance rating of 6.62/10 from WhoScored, making him one of the lowest-rated players in the City squad to have started more than two league matches.

Now that the final international break has been and gone, hopefully, this latest period of rest will have benefited Gundogan and he will be able to improve his performances over City’s upcoming round of big fixtures.