ILKAY GUNDOGAN is having withdrawal symptoms — from the butterflies before big matches.
The Manchester City midfielder should have been reflecting on their Champions League second-leg clash against Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
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Ilkay Gundogan has played under some of the world’s top coaches and is now honing his skills during his time off
But the pause in football has allowed the German star, 29, to ponder his long-term future and the possibility of moving into coaching — and he has even prepared by playing Football Manager!
Gundogan said: “We will see. It definitely can happen.
“I have learnt a lot as a player and I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the best managers in the world — Guardiola, Klopp, Tuchel, Low.
“There are not many players that have been coached by them. So yes, I firmly believe I can become a manager in the future.
“I speak German, Turkish and English perfectly. And I can communicate in Russian.
“I am now studying Spanish — it is important to learn things besides football.”
Gundogan is trying to maintain some kind of routine while in lockdown during the coronavirus crisis.
He added: “If I’m honest, I’m not watching much football . . . I am playing a lot of Football Manager. Football has still to be part of my daily routine!”
SunSport revealed how hundreds of highly-tuned professional footballers are struggling to cope with the strain of having the exciting climax to the season suspended. Gundogan said: “It is a difficult time for us all.
“I miss my everyday life, I miss training and the feeling of nervousness before a game.
“It is a pity but we have to accept this exceptional situation we are currently living.
“I miss football, of course, and that cracking game we were going to play.
“I see there is already an alternative calendar for when this is over, but health now is the most important thing.”
City will defend a 2-1 lead from the first leg to claim their first success against 13-time European kings Real when the calendar resumes.
Gundogan added: “I can only say that the tie is not finished yet. I hope we can play it!
“The most important thing is that we cannot underestimate Real Madrid. We have played only half of the tie.”
Gundogan and his team-mates are keeping in touch remotely.
He said: “We all have an individual training plan and we all have a gym at home, so it is not really a problem.
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“I miss having the ball at my feet but I believe this lockdown won’t affect me much. I’m still in good shape.
“We are all connected via WhatsApp and we report to the manager and everyone else every day talking about our updates. Each player has their own individualised workplan.
“We cannot do much more now but we are all connected to be ready.”
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin says Europe must unite against coronavirus to save football calendar
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
