İlkay Gündoğan made remarkable statements on many subjects, from his goal of becoming a coach after his football career to the change in modern football, from Kenan Yıldız to Victor Osimhen.
İlkay Gündoğan's statements are as follows:
"I WILL CONTINUE PLAYING AS LONG AS I STILL FEEL THAT EXCITEMENT"
Do you feel like you've reached the end of your career?
"As long as I still feel that excitement, I will continue to play. I still feel it very strongly now. But I have also been thinking for a while about what will happen next."
"THERE ARE SOME DEVELOPMENTS I DON'T LIKE"
How has football changed in the last 20 years?
"Although I love football, there are some developments that I do not like. For example, sometimes I get the impression that it is forgotten that it is a team sport."
"THE WHOLE WORLD GLOVES INDIVIDUALITY"
Who forgets this?
"Everyone. Players, coaches, media, the whole world celebrates individuality. You can see this in the fact that nothing seems more important than goals. Unfortunately, social media is also accelerating this trend."
"IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS"
Is it true that some football players search their names on the internet during halftime?
"Unfortunately, this is the case. It can be very dangerous when public praise becomes more important than the evaluation of the coach and teammates. This is especially true for young players."
"THIS IS MY GOAL"
Do you want to stay in football as a coach after your football career?
"Yes, I would. That's my goal."
"IT WAS PEP GUARDIOLA WHO INSTALLED THIS IDEA TO ME"
Why would you want to put yourself through such stress?
"It may sound like a cliché, but I feel responsible. Even as a player, I always thought about my teammates. For a while now, I have been taking notes from my managers about the things I want to inherit and the things I prefer to avoid. It was Pep Guardiola who instilled this idea in me, as he did with many of his other players. I saw my own future in his role as a manager."
"PEP SHAPED US ALL"
It is true that Guardiola is a genius, but is it also true that he does not care much about human relations?
"Actually, no. I always found Pep to be honest and at the same time sensitive. He expected a lot, it's true, and I had to constantly improve myself. But it made sense to me. In the end, Pep shaped us all. On the one hand, our team in Manchester was based on internal competition, on the other hand, we players really supported each other's success. That was thanks to him."
"OTHER CLUBS SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TOO"
City spent huge sums of money, you won five league titles and the Champions League there: do you ever get the feeling that your success has only been bought with money?
"Other clubs also spend a lot of money, for example PSG. For a long time they had a lot of money but did not have a team. Things have changed since Luis Enrique came."
"FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE IS UNDER ATTACK"
You were known for your football intelligence and timing. Are you worried about these characteristics being lost in modern football? Are infrastructures turning players into 'pressing machines' too much?
Football intelligence is under attack. Running, or rather sprinting, has become more important. But without the brain you can't get anywhere.
Can't a player run and think at the same time?
Yes, but its price would be 150 or 200 million euros. The number of people without football intelligence is only 80 million.
"IT WILL BE A DIFFICULT PROCESS, BUT I TRUST"
Can Klopp get Germany back on their feet?
"I am very happy that he is the manager. He took over Dortmund and Liverpool when they were in their worst period and led them to championships. It will be a difficult process, but I have confidence."
"THIS EXPERIENCE GREATLY HELPES THE GRAND FORWERS WHO COME TO THE SUPER LEAGUE FROM ITALY"
Almost all the great strikers of Serie A have played in Türkiye in recent years: Icardi, Mertens, Immobile, Osimhen, Vlahovic. Is there a special bond between Turkish football and Italian football?
"I think it is related to the passion, intensity and level of expectation. In Serie A, players learn to cope with the great pressure of the media and fans every week, while also developing a strong understanding of match management. This experience greatly helps the great forwards who come to the Super League from Italy. Turkish football is driven by the performances of players who are emotional, have a strong atmosphere and have high individual quality. Proven forwards in Italy can immediately cope with the excitement created by big stadiums. Turkish fans also immediately recognize players who show that character and scoring instinct on the field. adopts it."
"IT WILL BE A GREAT BRIDGE BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES THAT LOVE FOOTBALL"
How do you imagine EURO 2032, which will be jointly organized by Türkiye and Italy?
"Both countries have rich football cultures, passionate fans and incredible stadiums. It will be a great bridge between two countries that love football."
"KENAN HAS AN EXTRAORDINARY TALENT"
Yıldız, who was born in Germany like you, chose the Turkish National Team, unlike you. How do you evaluate his decision? How do you find it as an actor? Could he be one of the best in European football?
"I completely respect his decision. Choosing which national team to represent is a choice determined by family, emotions and personal perspectives. There is no right or wrong way. As a player, Kenan has extraordinary talent. His technique, dynamic movements and maturity at such a young age are impressive. He certainly has everything it takes to reach the highest levels."
"A WORLD-CLASS FORWARD"
Do you think Osimhen can help Galatasaray win the Champions League?
"He is a world-class striker and brings quality, physical strength and great hunger to the team. His ability to decide the fate of important matches is unquestionable. To be successful in the Champions League, you need players who can make a difference in critical moments and he is definitely one of those players."
