The Athletic FC Podcast Gundogan interview: Klopp vs Guardiola, Man City's treble & more
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Oct 19, 2025 
Veteran midfielder İlkay Gündoğan, known for his stellar career at Manchester City and with the German national team, shares fascinating insights with Jordan Campbell. He reflects on playing under Pep Guardiola's possession style versus Jürgen Klopp's high-intensity approach. Gündoğan also discusses his move to Galatasaray, career longevity through diet changes, and iconic moments at City. Plus, he reveals his coaching aspirations and how Pep's training transformed his game. A deep dive into modern football from a seasoned pro!
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Leaving The Team Chat Ritual
- When players leave a squad they post thank-you messages in the team chat then leave once replies slow.
- Gündoğan described quickly joining a new group chat with his new teammates afterward.
Tactical Alignment With Guardiola
- Gündoğan finds Pep Guardiola's tactical vision closer to his own due to recent shared success.
- He still credits Jürgen Klopp for formative influence but says Pep's possession game felt more clear to him.
Pressing Trained Like An Alarm
- Klopp trained instantaneous, almost panic-like pressing so recovery became automatic.
- The team learned to expect losing the ball and respond explosively, making pressing habitual.