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Ilkay Gundogan feels like he has returned home by rejoining Manchester City, saying it is as though he never been away given the friendly faces and Erling Haaland’s familiar goal heroics.
Last summer the 33-year-old brought the curtain down on seven medal-laden years at the Etihad Stadium, joining Barcelona on a free transfer after captaining the side to the treble.
Gundogan left as a club great and was received as such as the midfielder made his second debut as a substitute in Saturday’s 4-1 win comeback win against promoted Ipswich.
“Honestly, it feels like returning home and it’s such a joy to be back here playing this amazing football, trying to set standards,” Gundogan said.
“I feel very privileged.
“Not so much has changed. There are a few new faces inside the team but the boys welcomed me with open arms when I arrived.
“It honestly felt like I’ve never been away and also Erling scoring a hat-trick, I don’t think there’s anything better I could get used to. Hopefully there are many more to come.”
Gundogan believes “there’s no better team in world football that has so many players on such a high level”.
Haaland regularly shines the brightest thanks to his scoring prowess, with Saturday’s hat-trick taking the 24-year-old’s tally to 94 goals in 96 starts for City.
“When you have such numbers of course it is also to deal with the expectation from people,” Gundogan said.
“We all remember last year and the year before when he didn’t score for one, two, three games, there were people already criticising, ‘is he fitting the team?’ or this or that.
“Dealing with that at such a young age is not so easy but his behaviour inside the dressing room, his attitude, the way he is with people, whether it is players or staff, is just incredible.
“I think he is an example also as a human being of how we treat people and how he makes not just himself better but also us better. That is why it is a big privilege to share the dressing room with him.”
Gundogan is also delighted to back working with Pep Guardiola, his neighbour again after he returned to the Manchester apartment he kept during his time in Barcelona.
The midfielder says the pair kept in touch throughout his season away and have an “amazing” relationship, with reports he would be keen to join his coaching set-up one day.
“It is not something we really spoke about,” Gundogan said. “Obviously we spoke about tactics.
“He is explaining to me stuff and we have an exchange and I feel like there is so much to learn from him and it is something I will definitely consider for the future.
“That is why I did my B licence badges a couple of years ago, but it is not something we have spoken about yet.
“I think everyone who could be on his backroom staff would feel privileged and so would I one day when I would consider to retire.
“But I am not done yet, I still want to play a few years because I feel physically top, mentally on an amazing level and I just want to enjoy playing football.”
