Ilkay Gundogan has been hailed as the ‘perfect prototype’ of a player as he bids to fire Manchester City to Champions League glory.
The 32-year-old will lead City out in Istanbul on Saturday night as Pep Guardiola ’s side look to to wrap up the treble with victory over Inter Milan.
Gundogan scored some crucial goals as City clinched the Premier League title, then netted twice last weekend in their FA Cup final win over Manchester United.
However, he is out of contract in the summer and is yet to agree an extension to his stay at the Etihad. Gundogan has been linked with a big-money move to Saudi Arabia and also Arsenal.
But Patrick Vieira, who brought the curtain down on his own career at City, believes the midfielder is the glue that holds the team together.
He said: “Gundogan is the prototype of player a manager wants to manage because there is a humility to him that everybody loves, a professionalism and a human touch that everybody loves and on the pitch he lets his football do the talking.
“He is one of the few players that his well respected in world football because of the way he conducts himself on and off the field.
“Every manager worldwide would like to have this type of player because there’s no noise about him. There is quality on the field. He is a team player - a collective man - and the type of person that will bring the team together. That’s why he’s the captain of the club. He’s a lovely human being and I had the chance to meet him a few years ago. He’s a people person and a wonderful football player.”
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City are huge favourites to add the Champions League to their domestic trophies. They would emulate Manchester United’s famous side from 1999 if they are able to complete the treble.
Guardiola’s side suffered European heartbreak after falling at the final hurdle to Chelsea two years ago. Vieira, who won a hat-trick of Serie A titles at Inter before swapping the San Siro for the Etihad in January 2010, believes they are ready to finally get over the line.
He added: “City has been really consistent over the last five years in the Champions League. They have the experience of losing in the final, semi-final. They are playing some of the best football in Europe at the moment, but they are up against a team that are really strong defensively, so it will not be an easy task. They will accept to defend for 90 minutes and be well disciplined, so City need to play with patience.
“United was really successful winning the treble in 99 and City, if they manage to do it, will be at that level as well. To win the treble will make that generation of players really special.”
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