Manchester City’s Missing Leader: Gündogan’s Absence Felt as Season Nears Climax

At Etihad Stadium, the absence of Gündogan is keenly felt, particularly as the season reaches its climax due to his leadership.

The City lost one of its key figures last summer when captain Ilkay Gündogan decided to end his tenure as a Citizen after securing the treble (Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup). At 33, he sought a new challenge, revitalizing a growing FC Barcelona.

Gündogan has made appearances in the final stretch of the season, but it hasn’t been enough for Barcelona to meet its objectives. His experience has been missed at Etihad, where they knew they had a guarantee on the field with the German international.

English media outlets are reminiscing, with the Manchester Evening News highlighting “the impact of losing Gündogan, one of the smartest players on the field who intuitively knew what Guardiola wanted from every decision. Whenever the moment, Gündogan could be relied upon, and it’s hard to find a player like him.”

Golden Goals Gündogan boosted City’s stellar season last year with a brace against Leeds (2-1) and contributing to three goals, with two strikes and an assist, in the win over Everton (0-3).

Furthermore, the midfielder scored a double against Manchester United to clinch the FA Cup (2-1). His influence was evident in the Champions League triumph against Inter (1-0) with a goal from Rodri.

This season sees a repeat scenario with a tightly contested Premier League sprint, where Manchester City is not only competing against Arsenal but also with Liverpool entering the fray.

In Europe, they were eliminated by Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, though they secured a spot in the FA Cup final and will vie for the title against United once again.