The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast Gundogan interview: Klopp vs Guardiola, Man City's treble & more
Oct 19, 2025
Ilkay Gündoğan, the former Manchester City and Germany midfielder, shares insights on his time under Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp. He reflects on the tactical intricacies of Guardiola's possession play versus Klopp's pressing style. Gündoğan discusses his evolution as a player, the role of midfielders, and adapting to a demanding training regimen. He touches on the importance of scanning and awareness in midfield, his goal-scoring tactics, and what his future in football may hold, including aspirations in coaching.
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Klopp's 'Alarm' Pressing Drill
- He recalls Klopp's training creating instant, frantic pressing like an alarm-triggered reaction.
- The team trained to expect losing the ball so they could immediately swarm and recover possession.
Train With Relentless Consistency
- Gündoğan says Pep demands near-perfect training performance because margins for error are tiny.
- Do stay consistently focused in training to meet high tactical and technical expectations.
Man-to-Man Is Simple But Risky
- He observes man-to-man marking rose as a trend because it's simple and clear for players and managers.
- But he warns it can create vulnerabilities if teams don't manage cross-field movements well.