Top 66 Ilkay Gundogan Quotes

Pep’s arrival at City was the biggest factor in me coming here. Every player wants to works with him. If you ask any player, they would be happy to do so even if it was just for a few months.

I had four great years with Jurgen and I like him as a person and as a coach.

Everyone has his or her own opinion and I always welcome criticism. That’s why we have freedom of expression and that’s also what I stand for – but I won’t stand for insults.

We do not only have a Turkish side, inherited from our parents and our families, we were born and raised in Gelsenkirchen. It is a city with a high percentage of emigrants.

When it comes to the game they both focus on different things. Pep is maybe more about positions, dominating the ball while Jurgen is maybe more like winning the ball and trying to score goals as quick as possible with high intensity.

Winning the Champions League is what you dream about when you are a small child.

It’s become the norm that a player who has another year on his contract period has a decision between separation or extension.

If you are a great manager you have to have a great personality.

I feel privileged to have grown up in Germany so it was a heavy blow for me to be portrayed as somebody who isn’t integrated and who doesn’t live his life according to German values.

You know it’s part of football to lose, it belongs to it and its necessary because then you know what a feeling it is to win and you want to achieve that more and more. If you lose you appreciate winning a little bit more.

You can’t defend against Thomas Muller, it’s extremely difficult for defenders. As an opposing player, you never know what he’s going to do next.

Because of our Turkish roots, we still have a very strong relationship with Turkey.

That’s why I don’t want to know the questions before, when I give interviews whether TV or print. I don’t want to prepare myself for what I will answer.

I would be absolutely delighted if I were to have a career similar to that of Schweinsteiger, both at club and international level. We all know what he has done for German football. It is an honour to be likened to him.

We always feel when we’re able to score the first goal or an early goal, we feel like we are unstoppable.

In a World Cup every single game is important; you are not allowed to make mistakes, not allowed to fail. If you want to win, you have to be there every game.

Even though we are at the top level, we all make mistakes. We play the game, and mistakes are part of the game.

It’s bad if you disguise yourself, I honestly cannot see it anymore when you’re after the game, always asked the same questions and give pre-programmed answers. I do not know if there is a solution for that. I don’t know if you can, want or should change it. But sometimes I just wish for a little more.

There was a guy I found incredible in training. A player I thought ‘What is he doing? Is he only 18 or 19?’ That player was Mario Gotze. He did things in training that made me think ‘Wow. If he doesn’t make it all the way to the top then I don’t know!’

When you are not able to score the first goal, maybe we get nervous and don’t 100% feel the confidence is there and we have to be patient.

I grew up in a very multi-cultural society.

If I don’t get out of my comfort zone, I will never change and never improve.

I am convinced that you should always play the way you want to play and success will then come on its own – as long as it’s a good philosophy.

When I am 32, 33 and I realise that I can’t keep my level or it is dropping, it will be a stop abroad where you might not play at the highest level and not keep up with Premier League.

Ballack had a certain level of aggression in his game, and a strong mentality.

Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola are the two best teachers in the world.

In my opinion, he has very special abilities. He has talent and he always manages to show it on the pitch. He always has the instinct to make the right decision. He uses his speed well against the opponents he plays. He has a strong finish. All in all, no one else has as much quality as Lionel Messi.

Believe me: Everyone at City knows about Timo Werner. Many of my team-mates asked what kind of guy he is. He deserves respect.

Playing for Pep has certainly lived up to the expectations. I knew him from the Bundesliga and saw him coaching Barcelona when everyone saw an excellent manager who is able to get players to improve. He is a great personality and a very nice guy.

I dream of winning the Champions League title with Manchester City and a title with Germany.

I like to have the ball, to have possession and to play passes, to create chances for my team-mates. I think that is what makes me strong.

I came to Dortmund from a relatively small team and I struggled during my first six months to find my place there. I was a bit shy and, to be honest, I wasn’t brave enough do certain things. But thanks to the help of my team-mates, and with the help of Jurgen and his staff, too, I managed to improve.

The Premier League is the best league in the world in my opinion.

I think in the title race it’s crucial to be defensively as solid as possible.

To be honest, I’m not really into politics.

In football, you never know. There could be one or two injuries that crop up and you may be needed so I always try to prepare myself as though I will be playing in the next game or that I need to be available – that’s my philosophy, even when I’m not 100 per cent.

I take care of who I am and what I do, treating people in the nicest way possible and everything comes back in life.

Football has to keep being part of my daily routine!

If we lose and someone is better than us then we accept it. Handshake after the game and well done and focus on the next game. But if we lose and don’t play the style of football we want to play then we know it’s our fault and we can do it better.

From my own experience, the more you play, back-to-back games, the better you feel, with more self confidence and rhythm.

You shouldn’t want to imitate people if it doesn’t fit with your own style.

I think struggles are part of our profession. And it’s always about overcoming these kind of moments.

I am still a big fan of Jogi Low, and not just in terms of the sporting side of things. This applies to his character, his leadership qualities and his humanity.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the world class player after Messi, but for me he is not on this Galactico level of Messi.

You have to learn how to behave in these kind of moments when you are not able to control the game 100 per cent.

The Champions League is, in terms of club football, the most prestigious one. And if you don’t win it you will never be named one of the greatest teams, no chance.

To be honest I think watching from the sidelines is one of the most difficult things.

Iniesta makes the game look easy, but it’s not. On the contrary, it’s very difficult. I don’t think people appreciate it enough when they watch him on TV. He played brutal passes and was always flawless – it felt like he was floating. For simplicity, there is no better player than Iniesta.

Jurgen Klopp is more the emotional one and someone who can motivate really well. Pep Guardiola is more tactical, who always takes care of details and wants to show you how to do everything. Both are world-class managers and both have their own qualities. Both are amazing personalities.

You cannot just win every single game by three, four or five goals and then when you come into the last 16 playing a good team, 1-0 down, expect to turn it around easily. It’s not always like that.

Taffarel was also outstanding when Galatasaray won the UEFA Cup in 2000. I watched the games of ‘Gala’ a lot in my childhood.

Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel, Joachim Low… How many players can say they’ve had coaches like them?

Everyone told me the Premier League is the hardest. So I just wanted to try because I had nothing to lose.

I see myself as a mix between number six and number eight in central midfield – this is the best position for me, as a box-to-box midfielder.

Football is our life, not politics.

Kun Aguero is an amazing player. He has scored so many goals and he does a great job.

Of course, in the end it is all about what happens on the pitch, but it helps to have all the fans behind you.

I wish that sometimes there is a little more honesty and that you can discuss things openly. There should not be taboo subjects.

When you are in front and top of the table, it feels great to look at it.

I speak German, Turkish and English perfectly. And I can communicate in Russian.

In a team like Manchester City, Arsenal, and other big clubs, it’s quite difficult just to have the same 11 players starting every week.

I like to have the ball and play beautiful football. That’s what the people want to see and what makes football so special.

Pep has so much charisma that always makes you give more than 100 per cent, not only in matches, but in training too. His way of understanding the game also suits my style perfectly.