Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan wants return to Pep Guardiola’s starting XI after comeback from nine-month injury hell
German made his return to action in City's 6-0 thumping of Watford as a substitute after a nine-month lay-off with a serious cruciate ligament injury
AS they boarded their bus at Watford following another brilliant attacking display, Manchester City’s players had every right to be pleased with themselves.
But no one was grinning quite as much as Ilkay Gundogan — the German happy to be back, despite admitting he may never be as good as he was.
City hammered their hosts 6-0 on Saturday to make it 15 goals scored in eight days.
Sergio Aguero’s hat-trick moved him to within three goals of becoming the club’s record scorer.
And Kevin De Bruyne was feeling 10ft tall after Pep Guardiola said he was one of the best players he had ever seen.
Yet it was De Bruyne’s 66th-minute replacement who was the cause for so much happiness among the club and the fans.
Midfielder Gundogan was back after nine months on the sidelines following a serious cruciate knee injury — coincidentally suffered against Watford.
In an emotional interview afterwards, the midfielder revealed his relief at finally playing again.
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Gundogan, 26, said: “It was a long wait — and tough. That’s why it feels so special.
“I was already in the squad for the last two games but didn’t play.
“I am now even happier that I got some minutes and the way the team played was also impressive. So, yes, the perfect day.
“I am used to playing every three or four days. If an injury takes that away then it is always disappointing.
“It feels weird. You don’t feel part of the group any more, you are not travelling with the team.
“You do everything on your own or with the physio. That’s the worst feeling you can have.
“The worst time was the day of the injury or when I knew what exactly happened.
“When I knew there would be six, seven, eight, nine months out. The day after the surgery was not so good, either.
“But then you start again. You start to do your rehabilitation.
“You recover. You have ups and downs. There are days you feel better, days you feel very bad.
“When you have a long-term injury, this is normal.
“I did not have doubts whether I would play any more. I was quite sure.
“An anterior cruciate ligament injury is a common injury so you have surgery, the doctors know what they are doing, the physios know how to rehabilitate you.
“But it is long and it is my second knee injury and it is the same knee.
“There are doubts if I will again be at the level I had before. Because of these ups and downs, more of the downs, it is sometimes frustrating.
“The doubts at this point are even bigger. But I had no other choice — I am a football player.
“This is my job. This is what I have done all my life, since I was 18 as a professional.
“For me, there was no other choice than to try again. Obviously, I appreciate things more than ever.”
Gundogan was Pep Guardiola’s first signing at City in June 2016, arriving from Bundesliga outfit Dortmund for £20.4million.
He was becoming a key part of the midfield before his December injury and started 15 out of 20 matches since recovering from a dislocated knee that ruled him out of Euro 2016 and City’s pre-season.
Now Gundogan’s target is to be in Guardiola’s starting XI — and that could happen at West Brom in tomorrow night’s Carabao Cup clash.
He added: “As a footballer, you want to play as much as possible.
“Wednesday would be a good opportunity to do it but the manager will decide.
“If he thinks I am ready, I am ready. I am waiting for him.
“If I said I am the same player I was a year ago, I would be lying.
“Through the injury you don’t feel the same. You don’t feel you are the most powerful guy in the world, not that I ever did.
“I know what to do to prepare myself for the games, to warm my knee up and will do everything to be as fit as possible.
“That could be it for all the injuries! I think I am done! I am ready to enjoy playing.”
Gundogan also knows he is fortunate that, right now, City look to be creating something special, particularly from an attacking point of view.
Asked whether it it easier when he has the likes of Aguero and Gabriel Jesus causing mayhem going forward, he added: “It makes everything better. I enjoy it
even more with these guys.
“It is more fun to play. There is so much talent in our team.
“The season is long and tough so we need all the players.
“And now I am back it makes everything even more beautiful.”
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