A biography for Ilkay Gundoganhasn’t been written yet.
“Pep Guardiola tactically brings a gift that is second to none in the world.”
“Because of our Turkish roots, we still have a very strong relationship with Turkey.”
“The Premier League is the best league in the world in my opinion.”
“In a team like Manchester City, Arsenal, and other big clubs, it's quite difficult just to have the same 11 players starting every week.”
“There was a guy I found incredible in training. A player I thought 'What is he doing? Is he only 18 or 19?' That player was Mario Gotze. He did things in training that made me think 'Wow. If he doesn't make it all the way to the top then I don't know!'”
“I feel privileged to have grown up in Germany so it was a heavy blow for me to be portrayed as somebody who isn't integrated and who doesn't live his life according to German values.”
“If you are a great manager you have to have a great personality.”
“The idea of my parents was to keep us away from the streets. Gelsenkirchen is not a rich city. The crime is above average so they always tried to keep us away from bad things, and I think they were successful.”
“The elite footballers of one country meet at the national team and it's an honour for me to be among them.”
“You have to learn how to behave in these kind of moments when you are not able to control the game 100 per cent.”
“Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola are the two best teachers in the world.”
“It would be the completely wrong thing to go into games with fear.”
“When I am 32, 33 and I realise that I can't keep my level or it is dropping, it will be a stop abroad where you might not play at the highest level and not keep up with Premier League.”
“I prefer to get my own picture of people and Pep was the main reason that I moved to City. I am very happy with how things have gone, both personally and in a sporting sense.”
“Everyone has his or her own opinion and I always welcome criticism. That's why we have freedom of expression and that's also what I stand for - but I won't stand for insults.”
“My parents wanted me to have a good education, so I finished school, and at the same time I was able to play football.”
“The Champions League is maybe the most prestigious competition in the game and if you don't win it, as much as we are a great team, you feel like there's always something missing.”
“In a World Cup every single game is important; you are not allowed to make mistakes, not allowed to fail. If you want to win, you have to be there every game.”
“I liked to watch Kaka very, very much. The way he played with tremendous pace with the ball at his feet, he just left opponents behind. Watching him was a feast for the eyes.”
“Football has to keep being part of my daily routine!”