Ilkay Gundogan aims thinly-veiled dig at Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp

Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan appeared to make an indirect reference to Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp when stating the managerial qualities of Pep Guardiola.

Gundogan left Manchester City on a free transfer this summer in a shock move to join Barca.

He spent seven years at the Etihad Stadium, having been Guardiola's first signing as City boss.

The Germany international midfielder won an incredible 14 trophies with City, including the 2022/23 Champions League in his final competitive game for the club.

On an individual level, Gundogan was named in the PFA's Premier League Team of the Season in 2020/21, having netted 13 goals in 28 appearances that campaign playing in a more advanced role.

As he leaves City, the 32-year-old's legacy at the club is complete. Now set to embark on a new chapter at Camp Nou, he reminisced on playing under Guardiola - and noted how he had improved from his time at Borussia Dortmund working under Klopp and, for his final season, Thomas Tuchel.

Gundogan on working with Guardiola

Speaking in an interview with ESPN, Gundogan explained: "Seven years before I joined Manchester City, I thought, 'I know football'. I was 25 or 26 years old.

"So I thought, 'I've seen a lot'. I won league titles, cup titles.

"But standing here, after seven years of Pep's school, I probably would say I didn't know anything about football before, you know.

"So his influence, not just on the team but on me personally, was just immense. The aspects, the little details of the game that he has taught me and shown to us, I think is very special."

Gundogan's comments may appear to be a thinly-veiled dig at his time under Klopp at Dortmund, in suggesting that Guardiola has taken his game to new levels.

Gundogan did once refer to Klopp as a 'father figure' in the way he helped him adapt to life in German football after moving to Dortmund aged 20.

He explained in a 2022 interview with Turkish outlet Tivibu Spor (quotes via Manchester Evening News): "When I came to Dortmund at age of 20, I had an adaptation problem. The first six months were tough for me.

"But Klopp helped me because he treated his players like a father figure, like a friend. He was always with me, gave me confidence."