Ilkay Gundogan makes ‚chaotic‘ admission over debut Barcelona season
Ilkay Gundogan has openly described his time at Barcelona so far as ‚chaotic‘, acknowledging the hurdles of adjusting to numerous roles on the field.
In contrast to his seven-year stint at Manchester City, where he was a stalwart in midfield, Gundogan has embraced a more diverse job at Barca, often filling various positions across the pitch.
Speaking to reporters before Germany’s triumph over Denmark, Gundogan admitted (via MARCA): „With Barcelona, I have played in all the places where I have been needed, so it has been a bit chaotic, with a lot of position changes.
„I have had to adapt constantly. Sometimes, playing well also means knowing what position you play, who plays around you and feeling comfortable with that.
„In the national team, I feel very comfortable on the field with my teammates and in my position.“
In addition to discussing his own experiences, Gundogan also spoke highly of his teammate, Lamine Yamal.
„He’s only 16, but he’s crazy. Just crazy,“ Gundogan proclaimed. „The confidence with which he plays makes him look normal, but playing at the highest level throughout the year and arriving at the European Championship as a key player is not normal at that age.
„I wish him to stay healthy and reach the top of world football, because that’s his potential.“
Gundogan played over an hour of action as Germany beat Denmark 2-0 to reach the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, with the host nation among the favourites to lift the trophy later this summer.