Gundogan: Sometimes I still struggle to realise what we achieved | OneFootball

Ilkay Gundogan believes the magnitude of what he and Manchester City achieved during his eight years at the Club will only truly be appreciated in the fullness of time.

The German midfielder bid a fond farewell to City a fortnight ago, sealing a summer transfer deadline day move to Turkish side Galatasaray.

He departed after a quite magnificent eight seasons at the Etihad over two periods, during which time he helped the Club win 14 trophies, including the historic Treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League as captain in the 2022/23 season.

All told, he made 358 appearances for the Club across all competitions, scoring 65 goals and his impact was little short of seismic.

Gundogan it was whose late brace sparked a stunning turnaround from 2-0 down to clinch a 3-2 win over Aston Villa and so seal the Premier League title in 2021/22, while his record-breaking 12 second opener en route to another brace saw City secure the 2023 FA Cup final in the first-ever all-Manchester showpiece, a victory that formed the second part of City’s Treble.

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However, as he reflected on his time at City in an emotional farewell interview with City Studios held at Istanbul’s Ataturk Olympic Stadium, scene of that Champions League triumph, Gundo pointed to that glorious night in Turkey where we beat Internazionale 1-0 to so claim a maiden European crown – and with it the Treble – as his ultimate moment.

And he believes that scale of both that achievement and City’s incredible overall record of success under Guardiola will only properly be acknowledged further down the line.

“I would say that [the Champions League] was probably the most of things that I wanted [to win in] my career,” Gundogan reflected.

“It was just the perfect ending to that season.

“Maybe it's going to take another decade or even more, to look back one day and just realise what we have done, what I have done personally, but it means a lot.

“Obviously for me, being in my home country, having the opportunity to play in Istanbul, the Champions League final and then winning it and making it worth a Treble and as a Captain as well, having the privilege to lift all these trophies, it could have not been better.

“It's just unbelievable.

“Sometimes I still struggle to realise that.

“It means everything right now, and it's something that will connect the club, my teammates, my manager, and myself and the fans for our lifetime.”

Gundogan had the notable distinction of being the first player signed under Pep Guardiola after the Catalan took charge at the Etihad in the summer of 2016.

After a subsequent magnificent seven years together, capped by that historic 2023 Treble triumph, Gundogan staged a hugely popular return to City in the summer of 2024 after spending a season at Barcelona.

Reflecting on his time working under Guardiola, the former City and Germany captain said that both for him and his former colleagues it had been the ultimate privilege to play under inspired Catalan’s tutelage.

“Pep gave me everything that I wanted in football, I've learned so much [playing under him],” Gundo pointed out.

“It was amazing. I would say it's more than just a manager/player relationship. It's more than that.

“He had such a big impact also in my in my career and I think without him that what I've achieved, what we have achieved would have would have not been possible

“I think every single player that played under him, especially in the era of Manchester City will probably say the same: that we are all very grateful, and we feel privileged that we had the opportunity to work with the best.”

Gundogan’s focus is now fixed on his new challenge in Turkey with Galatasaray, the club he supported as a boy growing up.

But he said he would never forget the moments and memories that helped indelibly etch him as a bona fide Manchester City legend.

“I'm feeling mixed emotions, to be honest. Obviously, being at the club for a total of eight years, collecting many memories - mostly beautiful ones and successful ones,” Ilkay added.

“Obviously [there were] a few setbacks as well, which are part of it and make the nice ones even sweeter.

“But then [I’m] also joining my childhood club - the club that I supported since I'm a little boy and my whole family supports this club.

“Coming back to our home country, it's something that I'm really looking forward to, and that makes me really happy.

“So I guess I just take it as it is, trying to remember all these memories, that will stay for a lifetime, and trying to make new memories that I can add to the whole collection.”