Manchester City may finally have seen their replacement for Ilkay Gundogan vs Liverpool

Redaction Simon Brett with Dan Murphy
Published on 2024-03-13 10:00:00

Manchester City have been searching for a suitable replacement for Ilkay Gundogan, and they finally saw a glimpse of it on Sunday. City has historically handled player departures well, often seeing improvements after key players leave. However, Gundogan’s absence has been keenly felt this season.

After captaining City to a treble, Gundogan made a surprising move to Barcelona in the summer. Pep Guardiola had hoped to retain him, but delayed contract negotiations led to his departure. While City has still performed well without him, they have lacked his influence on the field, especially in possession and in big games.

The void left by Gundogan was starkly evident in their recent match against Liverpool. However, Mateo Kovacic, who has struggled to make an impact since joining from Chelsea, finally stepped up in Gundogan’s absence. Coming on as a substitute, Kovacic provided much-needed composure and distribution, helping City secure a draw against Liverpool.

Although Kovacic may not be at Gundogan’s level yet, his performance against Liverpool showed that he has the potential to fulfill his role in crucial games. City will likely rely on him in future matches to make up for Gundogan’s absence.

Overall, City’s search for a replacement for Gundogan may have found a ray of hope in Kovacic’s recent performance. As they continue to navigate the season without the influential midfielder, Kovacic’s emergence could prove to be a crucial development for the team.

Read Original article on Manchester City News