Berlin, November 11: Germany’s next 2018 World Cup qualifier against San Marino this Friday evening might not be an important game for coach Joachim Loew and many of his players as the 2014 World Champions are the big favourite against the minnows.
In the case of İlkay Gündoğan (Manchester City) though, things are different. The 26-year-old midfielder, who was transferred to the Premier League club for 27 million euro, is the man to watch at present in the German squad, reports Xinhua news agency.
The player with Turkish roots is set to replace Sami Khedira (Juventus) alongside Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) in Germany’s midfield engine room.
German football fans are rubbing their eyes in disbelief when watching a man that seems to be revealing previously unknown talents.
Since leaving Borussia Dortmund last summer for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, he seems to have gone through a metamorphosis.
The man until now seldom smiled after having to overcome serious injuries and always had to fight for his place in Dortmund’s midfield. He seems to be in a good mood every time he wakes up in the morning recently.
For most of his career, Gündoğan has been regarded as an outstanding talent but always found himself up against a wall standing in his way.
Since Gündoğan started donning the sky blue shirt in Manchester, the wall has disappeared for a good reason.
All of a sudden, Gündoğan has changed into a goal-scoring beast. Five goals in 11 games in the English Premier League stand for his new identity.
In Dortmund, Gündoğan only scored 15 goals in 157 games. English media changed his name to “top gun” and see him as Guardiola’s key player.
The midfielder has not only heeded Guardiola’s advice “to enter the box more often” but has changed his diet and lost several kilos. From 81 kilos down to 79 and the weight loss seems to have opened up a whole new football feeling.
“I think, now that I’ve reached the age of 26 I know better what I have to do to feel well,” Gündoğan said after having hired a personal fitness coach and undergoing extra training. Additionally, in Guardiola’s system, Gündoğan’s job has changed as he now is more of a number eight or ten instead of a six, meaning the highly skilled, fast and maneuverable Gündoğan is more of a forward.
It is exactly the type of position the German game and Loew need to fill as the attacking game needs improvement. While Kroos is the man for the strategy, Gündoğan is the one for speed and vertical passing. Khedira might have to fight for his place in the starting XI in the near future.
Gündoğan is also the man with perhaps the biggest motivation within the German team for as long as Dortmund’s Marco Reus is sidelined due to injury.
“Missing the 2014 World Cup in Brazil was the biggest disappointment of in my career. For two years, I had the World Cup on my mind. Then I missed Euro 2016 in France. Today I don’t think about the future that much. I now live more in the here and now,” Gündoğan said.
The unequal duel against San Marino is an important game for Gündoğan as it is a kind of warm-up for next Tuesday’s friendly against Italy -- Germany’s last international in 2016.
Meanwhile, Gündoğan is thinking about goals.
“We’re not thinking about repeating the 13-0 win in 2006, but it should be a 5-0 or 6-0 against San Marino,” he said.
“I know I will have to re-gain my place in the team after a long injury break. I have only 18 caps so far which is not much considering how long I’ve been around the team. So it’s time to look forward and enjoy. I’m determined to play a vital role in the future for the German national team,” Gündoğan said.
