In Catalonia, he will have his work cut out for him. Captain of a Manchester City for which he will have been crucial during the hat-trick last season, Ilkay Gündogan arrives in Spain with the label of the most snoring player dug up by FC Barcelona during the summer transfer window. While his choice can clearly be considered risky, the German midfielder did not hesitate when his contract expired last June in the north of England. His decision still arousing so much incomprehension among some, the defector from Borussia Dortmund insisted on explaining, once again, his choice in an interview granted to Sport. “First because it’s Barça. You can’t say no to Barça. Since I was little I dreamed of playing in this team and defending this shield. And it’s a great honor to be here. Also, I saw the potential of the workforce, what has been created since last season, what the coach started and I see that it can only improve, better and better. I’m very motivated and I came here to prove to myself that I’m still worth it despite being 32 years old, it’s a new league and the challenge is not going to be easy, but I like difficult challenges. They make me a better version of myself. So I’m ready to challenge myself and give it my all in this new stage.»
Centerpiece of the City of Pep Guardiola, Gündogan should not be out of place with the game system of Xavi, certainly less oiled, but which is based on the same foundations. And in these eyes, these bases are enough to allow him to dream big and he already imagines himself winning the most brilliant trophies next season with the culé club: “I am here to win, to win La Liga, the Cup and the Champions League. I had a great season with City, but I want to keep winning again and again. So I came here to enjoy football, but also to win. Above all to win.” The German international (67 caps, 17 goals) also has confidence in his new teammates to quench his thirst for victories: “Yes, I think so, the quality is there, but it’s not enough quality, it takes mentality, consistency and sometimes a little luck at the right time. And I think we have a responsibility to go far and try to play the best we can. Not just in the Champions League, but also in La Liga to be able to win it again.“It remains to be seen whether Gündogan is not deluding himself while the competitors of FC Barcelona have also strengthened themselves wonderfully.
