Ilkay Gundogan has quite easily been Barcelona’s best, and most reliable midfielder this season.
Despite arriving just last summer, the treble-winning captain has adapted wonderfully to life in Catalonia and featured in many roles across the field.
Owing to Barcelona’s injuries, he has played deeper in midfield than he would have liked to, yet he has recorded a stunning five goals and six assists in La Liga alone.
Speaking to the media recently, the Barcelona midfielder elaborated on his playing style and how it developed over the years.
“Was I born with my skill, or did I learn it? I think I have learned it over time, I have always been a player who brings a lot about the game, about the game process.”
“When I am on the pitch I do not only look at myself but also my teammates, I look at the entire image, how to get the ball from the defence, that I reach the centre of the field, the attack,” he added, emphasising that he always stayed a step ahead of his teammates.
The German maestro then went on to praise and credit Pep Guardiola, with whom he worked at Manchester City, for maturing his footballing philosophy.
“Before everything was less, I would say a little simpler, but, when I started working with Pep, everything began to evolve enormously, also very fast.”
“He teaches you that there are many phases of the game that you didn’t even know before and yes, he taught me a lot about football,” he added on the Barcelona legend’s ideology.
Having returned from international duty, Gundogan starred in Barcelona’s tight win over Las Palmas last week and is set to start against Paris Saint-Germain later this week.
With Pedri unlikely to feature on the night and de Jong just returning from injury, the pressure will once more be on the veteran’s shoulders.
