Ilkay Gundogan has weighed in on Manchester City's dip in form and pointed to a loss of "desire", that previously powered their dominance.
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Man City have not been their usual selfFA Cup remains their only silverware hopeGundogan believes a lack of intensity has hurt themFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Despite clinching the Premier League title in four consecutive seasons and six of the last seven campaigns, Pep Guardiola’s side have found themselves struggling to maintain that standard in 2024–25. A difficult stretch in November and December saw them slide down the table, and they now sit sixth with just seven league matches remaining.
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Every fixture has become crucial with the top five positions guaranteeing Champions League football next season. Gundogan, who captained City during their treble-winning campaign, has suggested that the lack of intensity and collective mentality might explain why the club is battling for a top-five finish rather than challenging for another Premier League title.
WHAT GUNDOGAN SAID
In a candid interview with Gundoğan shared his belief that City’s issues have not just been tactical or down to injuries but psychological as well. He feels that a fixation on systems and positional play may have come at the expense of foundational elements like hunger, aggression, and work rate.
"I feel like in a lot of games from our side maybe we gave sometimes a bit too much importance to tactics and didn't really pay attention much on behaviour; behaviours of ourselves," Gundogan said.
"Having that determination, that desire, aggressivity. Like simple things that are part of the game, but maybe sometimes you just think too much about positioning yourself or whatever. You might forget the other things that are kind of normal or that should be normal at least."
DID YOU KNOW?
City’s recent improvement in results has given fans hope of a strong finish. For Gundoğan, one moment that stood out was the FA Cup quarter-final comeback against Bournemouth in March, which City won 2-1 after falling behind early.
"Honestly, in the last few games I see a certain change, especially that uncomfortable, very uncomfortable game against Bournemouth in the FA Cup," he said. "The way they play — aggressive, physically strong — and the way we behave there away at their place, especially after also conceding the first one, I think it was just unbelievable."
