Ilkay Gundogan reveals how he often fought with Pep Guardiola at the training ground, then went home and drank champagne
Ilkay Gundogan (right) battles with Pep Guardiola at the training ground (Image: Getty Images)
Ilkay Gundogan has warned Manchester City and their supporters against comparing their new manager to Josep Guardiola. Guardiola’s 10 brilliant years at the Etihad have come to an end.
Enzo Maresca has been chosen as Guardiola’s successor and is considered to be the first candidate to take on the mission impossible task.
The Italian, who was released by Chelsea in early 2026, is expected to meet club leaders and agree an initial three-year contract.
And Gundogan believes whoever replaces Guardiola should be allowed to be his own person. Because he admits that no one can match the departing Spaniard.
Gundogan said: “I think the most difficult thing is not to try to compare too much. Obviously there are some names being thrown around, but we might know who it will be.”
read more: Jack Grealish has already decided on a summer transfer after receiving disdain from Pep Guardiolaread more: Josep Guardiola talks about the first thing he will do if he becomes Manchester City’s next manager
“But don’t try to compare them to each other, because at the end of the day, every director has their fine points.
“Maybe not as generals, but sometimes they want to do things differently. They’re different as people.
“They like things different than what other people like, so accept that and try to get to a place where that comes in and welcome them with open arms.
“And I think this club is very good, very smart and kind of making the right decisions. So I’m sure the new guys coming back here will be very successful as well.”
Enzo Maresca is expected to be confirmed as Guardiola’s replacement at Man City (Image: Darren Walsh, Chelsea FC, Getty Images)
Gundogan, who won 14 major trophies under Guardiola, revealed how he battled with his former manager on the training ground.
Gundogan, who lived next door to Guardiola in Manchester city center, added: “To be honest, I have a lot of memories. It was when I had a fight with him at the training ground.”
“We still talk about a situation that happened in training when he was still here.
“Pep was saying something and I was shouting back at him, but actually he was saying something nice to me and I was going crazy. He was laughing about the whole situation.”
Gundogan has warned City fans not to compare the new manager with the outgoing manager.
“I laugh about that, because obviously I’m his neighbor, so we get more opportunities to just have a glass of wine or champagne or whatever and have a conversation.
“So I really appreciate that and I really appreciate him as a human being. As a coach, we don’t have to talk about him and everyone loves that, but as a human being, to me he’s a great human being.”
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