Ilkay Gundogan, Manchester City’s midfielder, expressed personal disappointment following the Blues’ 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday. The reigning champions have now lost vital ground in their quest for a top-four finish after securing just one point from their last two matches against Nottingham Forest and Brighton.
City went ahead twice during the match, with goals from Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush, but ultimately had to settle for a draw against Fabian Hürzeler’s Seagulls at the Etihad Stadium.
With only nine games remaining in their pursuit of a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League—a target that is seen as the minimum requirement—City finds itself in a challenging position during what has been Pep Guardiola’s most difficult season in charge.
“I feel personally very disappointed. After going ahead twice and playing reasonably well, it’s frustrating not to secure three points,” said Gundogan, who was the first signing made by Guardiola at City.
The German international returned to Manchester City this season after a move to Barcelona, where he joined after winning a historic treble with his former club in 2023. However, he has struggled to replicate his previous form since returning, but he is likely to remain with the club beyond the summer if he activates an appearance-based extension clause in his contract.
Key players such as Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, who have been instrumental under Guardiola, have been linked to potential exits at the end of the season, especially as Manchester City prepares for a rebuild with incoming director of football Hugo Viana.
Failing to qualify for the Champions League next season could severely impact City’s recruitment efforts during the summer transfer window, with Guardiola reportedly interested in signing players like Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, Juventus full-back Andrea Cambiaso, and Atalanta midfielder Ederson.
Gundogan played the entire match against Brighton and assisted Marmoush’s goal, which briefly gave City a 2-1 lead before an own goal from January signing Abdukodir Khusanov leveled the game just after the break.
“We managed to limit their possession. However, after conceding the equalizer, it felt like our confidence and belief dropped a bit. We started giving away easy chances. It’s important to remain calm; mistakes happen even at this level,” Gundogan noted.
He emphasized the need for the team to expect high standards from everyone daily, stating, “I thought we had a good week of training, and we want to bring that energy into our matches. Sometimes, it just isn’t enough.”
Gundogan and Manchester City are eager to conclude what has been a lackluster season on a high note, with their next challenge being an FA Cup quarter-final tie against Bournemouth following the international break.
Credit: Yahoo Sports
