OPINION
Man City supporters might have raised some eyebrows at a team selection that included five changes to the side that drew against Lyon in the Champions League in midweek, but few would have been too disturbed at Ilkay Gundogan returning to the starting XI against Bournemouth after a minor injury. David Silva dropped down to the bench, and the German stepped up into central midfield alongside Fernandinho and Bernardo Silva. City were far from their most fluent during the first half, unsurprisingly given that half the side had been changed, and with the scoreline 1-1 at that point, plenty of criticism from fans was directed towards Gundogan, with claiming he was a “disasterclass once again” and others commenting on his “very lethargic play”. The former Borussia Dortmund was effective in possession but he did not have the energy of some of his teammates in terms of recovering possession and winning back the ball. That did not go down too well. But, City eventually secured a 3-1 win, with Gundogan scoring the match-clinching goal. He had made some of his critics eat their words.
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets below:
Gundogan and Otamendi disasterclass once again
— E (@ffsEwan) December 1, 2018
Very lethargic. Not much sparkle. Gundogan walking around midfield miss passing and miss controlling.
— the doctor (@ruiningfootball) December 1, 2018
Gundogan has been so sloppy. They are targeting zinchenko wing also
— wycliff mutiso (@Clif_KE) December 1, 2018
When gundogan wakes up and realises he's in a competitive match we may get something … Danilo hella rusty the goal was coming but no proper supply into jesus and to take advantage of sane pace
— Tea Time Tea Time Tea Time (@TobzBigger) December 1, 2018
Gundogan has been awful and they’re both the reason we’re not creating
— G? (@grgertclffe) December 1, 2018
Take Gundogan off FFS #MCIBOU #MCFC
— PHAKAMANI (@Phakamani_MCFC) December 1, 2018
Gundogan is so bad in transitions. On the ball he's decent but he offers little when it turns over. Danilo is killing sterling game neither overlapping or moving close inside to set him free.
— Kierron (@Kierron_) December 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/_BluApe/status/1068896895207116800
Gundogan is kinda useless…full-backs are weak..passing is lethargic…need quality, at this kind of moment I miss KDB. Come back soon @DeBruyneKev stronger ??
— Alice?? (@arrishu7678) December 1, 2018
Don't like it whenever Gundogan plays tbh
— Rye | ?????? (@KingK_Blue) December 1, 2018