Ilkay Gündogan, the great: The German international crowns his career

Once in the second half at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul, Ilkay Gündogan was cleared hard. Inter playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu checked him quite hard from the side. The German international flew onto the pitch and convulsed in pain, so that at first there were concerns about Gündogan’s ribs. Eventually he moved on. There was still work to be done.

At that point it was still 0-0 in the final of the Champions League. Manchester City were the better team with captain Gündogan, but could not find a way to break through the defense wall of the Milanese. Scorer Erling Haaland was signed off in the storm center. But Gündogan and coach Pep Guardiola’s team kept running until the gap in the Milan Wall opened up in the 68th minute and Rodri threw the ball into the bottom right goal from the backcourt. It was the redeeming moment for the English champions. Rodri’s goal decided the game and made Manchester City the Champions League winner in 2023. Winning the title crowned an almost perfect season with the treble. As is well known, City had previously won the championship and cup.

Ilkay Gündogan completes his great career

For Gündogan, the triumph in Istanbul means nothing other than the completion of his career. At the age of 32 he won the most important title in club football. The extraordinary footballer was missing a big title. He missed the 2014 World Cup due to injury. And Gündogan carried the burden of two Champions League defeats with him. In 2013 he failed with Borussia Dortmund at Bayern Munich and in 2021 at Real Madrid.

The pressure on the shoulders of Gündogan and his team was clearly visible throughout the game. City acted nervously and saved the 1-0 lead just over time. In the interviews after the game, the 32-year-old new father initially seemed as controlled as he was on the field, only when he hugged his team-mates did all the tension release.

After Gündogan had finally lifted the pot himself at the award ceremony, he admitted that the defeat in the final had “mentally chased him” because he was aware that there would “not be many opportunities left” for the most important trophy in European club football . That’s why this success feels “like in a fairy tale”, he said: “It doesn’t get any better than that!”

Gündogan’s whereabouts at Manchester City are open

Now the native of Gelsenkirchen is going to the national team on Wednesday with the treble in his luggage. He arrives there together with Robin Gosens, who played for Inter Milan and, unlike his colleague, has to cope with the defeat first. Perhaps a strengthened Gündogan will have a positive effect on the national team. So far, his career in the DFB dress has been rather bumpy, which is sometimes due to the national coaches Löw and Flick, who could not find the right place for the brilliant technician. Gündogan has not (yet) played a formative role in the national team like in Manchester City.

It will not be quiet around Gündogan. His contract with the Cityzens is about to expire, the club wants to keep him for everything in the world, but it’s anyone’s guess whether he wants to. Arsenal London and FC Barcelona are working on him. Gündogan wants to announce a decision in the next few days, when he has recovered from the party. Perhaps one last station in his long and so successful career will appeal to him. He would leave Manchester City accomplished. And Gündogan has not met so many clubs. Trained in Bochum, his path led him via 1. FC Nürnberg to Borussia Dortmund and in 2016 to Manchester City. Gündogan was the first player that the new city coach Pep Guardiola signed at the time.

Manchester City now wants to mark an era like Real Madrid have done in recent years. Guardiola will have done a lot to ensure that he does not lose one of his most important players.

Sources: , “, , DPA