Man City star Ilkay Gundogan picks differences between Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola

Ilkay Gundogan has spoken of his admiration for the managerial prowess of both Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp , having been one of the elite few to play under these Premier League titans.

The Manchester City maestro, who also captained Borussia Dortmund under Klopp, is full of accolades for his former and current bosses, hinting at gleaning insights from them as he eyes a future role in management post his playing days. Only a select squad, including Xherdan Shaqiri and Thiago Alcantara, can claim the privilege of absorbing wisdom from both tacticians.

Gundogan praised both for their impact on his career but noted his particularly enlightening journey with Guardiola at City, which profoundly changed his perception of the beautiful game. Reflecting on his evolution last year in an ESPN chat, the German international said: "Before I joined Man City I thought 'I know football'. I was 25, 26 years old so I thought I've seen a lot, I've won league titles, cup titles."

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"But now, standing here after seven years of Pep's school, I probably would say I didn't know anything about football before. His influence, not just on the team, also on me personally, was just immense. The aspects, the little details of the game that he has taught me and showed to us I think is very special."

In 2022, while reminiscing on both coaches' styles, Gundogan touched upon the exceptional man-management approach of Klopp and expressed his contentment with being part of Guardiola's squad.

Speaking to Tivibu Spor, the player shared his experiences, saying: "When I came to Dortmund at the age of 20, I had an adaptation problem. The first six months were tough for me. But Klopp helped me because he treated his players like a father figure, like a friend. He was always with me, gave me confidence."

Reflecting on his growth as a player, he added, "I spent five successful years with him. I became a national player. I started working with [Joachim] Low. Then I had an incredible season with [Thomas] Tuchel in Dortmund. Then I had the opportunity to work with Guardiola."

He expressed his admiration for Guardiola: "As I have always been a fan of Guardiola, I always wanted to work with him. In 2016, the opportunity arose and we had a phone call with him. We talked, we argued, and I finally came to Manchester City."

Concluding his recount, he said, "I have been very happy here for five, six years. I am very happy with Pep, even my neighbour himself. He is a coach who has given me a lot. I am very satisfied with the coaches I have worked with so far."