Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola did not hold back his criticism of Ilkay Gundogan's performance during their recent Premier League clash against Newcastle United.
The match, which took place on September 28, 2024, at St. James' Park, ended in a 1-1 draw. Guardiola described Gundogan's display as "one of the worst games I've ever seen him play" in the last eight or nine years.
The game saw Josko Gvardiol give City an early lead in the 35th minute, converting a well-threaded pass from Jack Grealish. However, Newcastle's Anthony Gordon equalized from the penalty spot in the 58th minute after being fouled by City's goalkeeper Ederson. Despite several attempts to regain the lead, including a near-miss by Bernardo Silva in added time, City had to settle for a draw.
Guardiola's comments came after Gundogan's lackluster performance, which was a stark contrast to his usual high standards. The manager's brutally honest assessment highlighted the midfielder's struggles during the match, emphasizing the need for improvement.
However, Guardiola also praised Gundogan's resilience and response in subsequent games, particularly noting his strong performance against Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League.
This match marked City's second consecutive draw in the Premier League, following a similar result against Arsenal. Despite these setbacks, City remains second on the league table with 14 points from six games, while Newcastle sits in fifth place with 11 points. The absence of key players like Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri due to injuries has undoubtedly impacted City's recent performances, adding to the challenges faced by Guardiola's squad.
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