Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has attributed the club’s struggles this season to a lack of ‘determination and desire’.
Pep Guardiola’s side have endured a hugely disappointing season, suffering early elimination from the Champions League as well as struggling for form in the league.
Injuries to key players have also blighted their campaign with Ballon d’or winner Rodri as well as other key players, all suffering time sidelined with injury.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s must-win game against Crystal Palace at the Etihad as they look to close in on a top-five finish which will be enough for a UCL qualification, Gundogan blamed the team’s slump on injuries as well as a lack of desire from the players.
“I feel like in a lot of games from our side maybe we gave sometimes a bit too much importance to tactics and didn’t really pay attention much on behaviour; behaviours of ourselves,” Gündoğan told ESPN.
“Having that determination, that desire, aggressivity. Like simple things that are part of the game, but maybe sometimes you just think too much about positioning yourself or whatever. You might forget the other things that are kind of normal or that should be normal at least.”
Manchester City’s form has slightly improved since the turn of the year, and they are currently unbeaten in their last four matches.
The Cityzens who have won four league titles in a row and six of the last seven, have only the FA Cup as their hope of a silverware this season, first having to navigate through a semifinal match against Nottingham Forest at Wembley later this month.
“Honestly in the last few games I see a certain change, especially that uncomfortable, very uncomfortable game against Bournemouth in the FA Cup”, the German continued.
“The way they play — aggressive, physically strong — and the way we behave there away at their place, especially after also conceding the first one, I think it was just unbelievable.”
Manchester City have seven league games to secure UCL qualification for next season, beginning with Saturday’s home game against Crystal Palace.
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