Ilkay Gundogan has urged “every single Manchester City player to question themselves” as the team’s struggles deepened with a 2-0 defeat to Juventus in the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola’s side endured a frustrating evening in Turin. A tightly contested first half ended goalless, but Dusan Vlahovic broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute with a precise finish. Weston McKennie then sealed the victory for the hosts with a stunning acrobatic effort, leaving City without an answer.
The result compounds a worrying trend for the English champions. With just one win in their last 10 matches across all competitions, City now languish in 22nd place in the league standings, putting their chances of progressing to the knockout stages in jeopardy.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Gundogan admitted the team’s confidence is severely lacking:
“It’s very disappointing. We had chances to score a few goals, but it feels like every time we’re attacked, it’s a real threat. It’s a mental issue—something we need to address quickly.”
Gundogan’s comments underscore the urgency for City to rediscover their form ahead of a season-defining stretch of matches.
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Ilkay Gundogan did not mince words after Man City’s Champions League loss to Juventus
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The former club captain called upon his team-mates to look within themselves to stamp out ‘careless’ play
Pep Guardiola’s men have managed just one win in their last 10 games across all competitions.
Guardiola candidly reflected on the challenges after another defeat, this time at the hands of Juventus:
“I sometimes feel like we overcomplicate things instead of keeping it simple. In crucial duels, we seem careless, and that’s costing us.
“Confidence is a huge factor—it’s mental. One mistake, one missed duel, and suddenly we lose our rhythm completely. Opponents disrupt our flow with minimal effort, and in key moments, we consistently make the wrong choices.
“We understand what’s going wrong and why, but despite playing good football for much of the game, we fail to capitalize. Scoring has become a challenge, and finding the solution feels just out of reach. That’s my personal perspective.”
Captain Ilkay Gundogan echoed his coach’s sentiments with a rallying message to his team: “Every player must question themselves and find ways to give more, to sacrifice for the team.”
The team will now look to regain momentum in England, with a crucial clash against Manchester United looming.