Monday 7 November 2016 12:27, UK
Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan has welcomed the input of manager Pep Guardiola and credits the Spaniard with improving his game.
The 26-year-old midfielder, who joined City from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, has hit form since returning from injury and has now scored five goals in 10 games.
"[Guardiola] doesn't leave anything to chance and knows what to tell his players in every situation, especially in terms of tactics," Gundogan told German magazine Kicker.
"You have the feeling that 99 per cent sure isn't enough for him, he wants to be 100 per cent that what he has thought out will fit perfectly to the game and the opponent.
"For example, against Barcelona he changed the formation after half an hour from a 4-1-4-1 to a 4-4-2. He gave us a totally different feeling and we suddenly had the game under control.
"It's unique the way he does that, but players from Bayern and Barcelona had already said that about him. And the success he has had hasn't come by accident.
"Although Borussia managed to beat him from time to time, it was impressive for my team-mates and I [to see] how he always managed to find solutions for every situation. I am now experiencing that for myself and it's really bringing me along."
Gundogan also says his new advanced role is contributing to the goalscoring prowess he has displayed of late.
"I know that I have Fernandinho, a defensive midfielder, behind me and that he is always covering my back," he added.
"That is why I am playing more attacking and getting close to the penalty area more frequently. At Dortmund, I was more the defensive cover."
The German netted just six goals in 73 appearances for Dortmund before making the £21m switch to the Premier League in the summer in a four-year deal.
But Gundogan suggests that with the move to Manchester came an added expectation to challenge for trophies every season and the club's ambitions are somewhat different to that of his former Bundesliga outfit.
"The pressure and responsibility for the individual players is accordingly big and it's certainly different to in Dortmund," he added.
"They make it quite clear that they crave the very best here.
"The expectation levels are extremely high due to the transfers and above all due to Pep. He is simply success personified."
Gundogan, who scored twice in City's 3-1 win over Barcelona at the Etihad in the Champions League on Tuesday, is hoping Germany head coach Joachim Low may also give the midfielder the chance to flourish in a role further up the field - alongside the likes of Mesut Ozil and Toni Kroos - with the national team later this week.
He said: "It's possible. That would make us extremely variable."
Gundogan will report for international duty on Tuesday ahead of Germany's World Cup Qualifier against San Marino on Friday night. Low's side travel travel to Italy for an international friendly four days later.
Gundogan has also sung the praises of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp - although he hopes to prevent his former Dortmund boss being as successful in England as he was in Germany.
Speaking at the presentation of a new Germany kit in Dusseldorf on Monday, Gundogan said: "He's doing an extremely good job. We all know what an excellent manager he is and how successful he can be. He's fantastic and a great personality."
City trail the Reds by two points after 11 games of the season, but the 2012 Bundesliga winner still hopes to come out on top in May.
"Jurgen's doing an extremely good job and he also has the advantage of not being in Europe, meaning he gets a few extra days preparation time," Gundogan said.
"But I hope we manage to ensure Jurgen is not so successful."
