• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Ilkay Gundogan Praised For 'Intelligent' And 'Mature' Reply To Erling Haaland Question, He Was Honest

Home> Football

Updated 15:09 31 Jul 2022 GMT+1Published 15:05 31 Jul 2022 GMT+1

Ilkay Gundogan Praised For 'Intelligent' And 'Mature' Reply To Erling Haaland Question, He Was Honest

The German midfielder's 'honest' answer has gone viral.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

Ilkay Gundogan doesn't think Manchester City would have beaten Real Madrid in last season's Champions League semi-final, even with Erling Haaland in their ranks.

Premier League champions City confirmed the signing of Haaland in June after the club agreed to pay his release clause – believed to be worth around £64 million – to German side Borussia Dortmund.

The 22-year-old forward has penned a five-year deal at the Etihad worth a reported £375,000-a-week.

Haaland netted 42 times in 39 games for club and country last season – a record he will be hoping to emulate in the coming months at City.

But midfielder Ilkay Gundogan believes his influence wouldn't have mattered in their Champions League semi-final defeat to Real Madrid.

Advert

Pep Guardiola's side were knocked out by Los Blancos in dramatic fashion. They conceded two goals in the dying embers before Karim Benzema netted a penalty to seal Madrid's place in the final.

Months later and Gundogan was asked the following by a reporter: "If Erling [Haaland] was in your team, would you have beaten Real Madrid in the Champions Leauge semi-final in May?"


Advert

In the interview with ITV Sport, Gundogan paused for a moment before saying: "I mean honestly, I would say no."

He added: "I don't think we've lost the game because we didn't have a physical striker, No. That's not what I believe. I believe we lost the game because we didn't play mature enough in the last minutes of the game.

"To concede two goals in the last five minutes of the game is definitely something that should not happen."

Gundogan's measured response to the question was praised by many on social media. One fan said: "Think it's a good answer from him and he's right. They weren't missing more goals in that game or anything, having a good striker won't make you not concede three goals in five minutes."

Advert

Another wrote: "A very levelheaded response," while a third commented: "That's such a good answer ngl."

Haaland will not doubt play a crucial part in Manchester City's upcoming campaign, both in league and cup competitions, but he struggled to find his feet in the club's Community Shield defeat to Liverpool on Saturday.

That being said, former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane thinks he is a "brilliant" player who will score plenty of goals in the coming months.

Advert

Ahead of kick-off on Saturday, Keane told ITV: "He's a brilliant, brilliant player. Good age, 22, he hasn’t peaked yet, he’s working with a brilliant team and a brilliant manager.

"He’s got all the attributes, you can’t imagine him not scoring 20 goals, you just can’t.

"If he stays fit, he’s obviously got the right attitude what a signing, you used a word there… exciting, that’s exactly what this young kid is and I’m excited to watch him over the next few months."

Featured Image Credit: ITV Sport

Topics: Erling Haaland, Manchester City, Premier League, Ilkay Gundogan, Champions League, Real Madrid

Jack Kenmare
Jack Kenmare

Jack is a Senior Journalist who enjoys a long read. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Football Manager wonderkids from 2005 to the present day, and has interviewed a handful of FM's finest, including Freddy Adu, Supat Rungratsamee and Mika Aaritalo.

X

@jackkenmare_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

8 hours ago
13 hours ago
14 hours ago
  • 8 hours ago

    Real Madrid have special gift planned for Trent Alexander-Arnold if they win Club World Cup

    The former Liverpool right-back has played four times for Xabi Alonso's side at the Club World Cup.

    Football
  • 13 hours ago

    Five Man Utd players 'tell club they want to leave' and won't report for pre-season with rest of squad

    Manchester United have delayed their return date until later in July to allow them to secure a transfer away from Old Trafford.

    Football
  • 14 hours ago

    Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey charged with rape as Met Police issue statement

    Partey has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

    Football
  • 14 hours ago

    Zenit Saint Petersburg ask for their money back after Nico Williams signs new contract with Athletic Bilbao

    Williams has committed his future to Bilbao after snubbing a move to Barcelona.

    Football
  • Ilkay Gundogan immediately addresses 'sad footage' of his performance during Man City's defeat to Juventus in brutally honest interview
  • Ilkay Gundogan makes shock announcement amid reports of Man City return
  • Eagle-eyed Man City fans spot moment between Kyle Walker and Ilkay Gundogan and it doesn't look good
  • CBS Sports panel expertly break down Erling Haaland performance in Inter draw and agree on the one thing he can’t do as a striker