Roy Keane hailed Ilkay Gundogan after he scored a stunning goal in the first-half against Everton today for Manchester City.
City are on course to claim three points at Goodison Park, to extend their lead over Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.
After some fairly good Everton defending for the first half-hour or so, City are having a relatively easy afternoon on Merseyside.
The man who got the ball rolling was Gundogan with a quite simply brilliant goal.
The star controlled a cross into the box from Riyad Mahrez with his thigh. The German then flicked the ball behind him and into the bottom corner.
It was a fantastic piece of skill from a truly wonderful player.
The goal was analysed at half-time, and Keane was left seriously impressed by Gundogan’s skill.
He said: “Brilliant goal. He’s an outstanding midfielder. His timing is always great.
His first touch, and then the second touch… my goodness. Absolutely magnificent. I’m feeling my hip just looking at him. What a brilliant goal, from an outstanding midfield player.
“His timing into the box and the way he finishes. (Kevin) De Bruyne gets all the headlines most weeks for Manchester City, but his player I think is absolutely fantastic.”
Not content with scoring one amazing goal, Gundogan then turned provider with Erling Haaland. He then scored a sumptuous free-kick.
Lovely words from Roy Keane for a truly outstanding player in Ilkay Gundogan
You could tell how genuinely impressed Keane was and how highly he rates Gundogan as a player.
And many will share his opinion.
Keane is right. Gundogan doesn’t tend to get as many headlines as De Bruyne.
But he is simply sensational, and it is very uncomfortable to think he could be leaving this summer.
Surely these two goals and performance from Gundogan will have City officials working overtime to get him tied down.
