Gundogan recently gave an interview in which he said that life in the Turkish Super League is great. He revealed that Guardiola joked last year that he would play for a few more years and then become his assistant coach someday. However, he is currently unemployed and will have to wait and see.
Speaking about his first year with Galatasaray in Istanbul, Gundogan said: “I knew what I was going to face. A new league, a new environment. Turkey is also a country I’ve never lived in before. We feel great. We’re happy in this city. The club has enormous potential, which it still can, and must continue to tap. There’s still a lot we can do to make the club bigger than it is now. Right now we are undoubtedly the biggest club in Turkey, but I believe we can go even further in Europe and on a global scale, especially in the Champions League and international competitions. That’s the goal for the next few months and years.”
When asked about his experience living in Istanbul, a city with a strong football culture, he said, “It’s actually very good. The quality of life here is extremely high. To be honest, we don’t go out very often. Of course, we take the kids to the playground, or to the mall for coffee and ice cream, or to a restaurant with my wife. But most of the time we just get in the car from home and go wherever we want to go. We don’t go for long walks or move around much. We try to avoid it as much as possible because we can’t really predict what we’ll encounter. But wherever we go, people are very friendly—whether it’s Galatasaray fans, Fenerbahce fans, or Besiktas fans, it really makes no difference.”
Gündoğan: The league must not be ignored.
When discussing goals for next season, Gundogan said, "We are delighted to have won the league title for the fourth consecutive time. But it gets harder every year. The league is also being strengthened. We absolutely cannot neglect the league. Winning four consecutive titles also means we can focus more on the Champions League."
When asked whether Galatasaray could go further in the Champions League than they did in the Round of 16 last season, he said: "At home, with the support of our fans, we have become a small force. But away from home, we are often too weak and too soft. In the new Champions League season, especially away from home, we should perform better. As a team, we also need to be more disciplined and organized so that we can make it more difficult for our opponents."
When asked if he was saddened by Germany's elimination from the World Cup and Julian Nagelsmann's performance, he said: "I played with Julian (Nagelsmann) in the last European Championship, and we have a very good relationship. I know almost all the players in the squad. I have many teammates and friends there. It was a very, very big disappointment for all of us. Now everyone's hopes are pinned on Jürgen (Klopp), who is the best person for the job at this time and the person everyone wants. This brings a certain amount of pressure. I have a deep personal relationship with him and know the passion he can ignite. I just wish him and his team all the best. The German national team should always be one of the title contenders, although in the coming months and years, we must first be more humble."
Speaking about Jürgen Klopp, he said, "If we bring in Jürgen Klopp now, we must give him some power so he can make some decisions freely. That's very likely to happen. The most important thing now is to build the team step by step. We need something to rely on, and we need an order that people can refer to. If we can build it up in the shortest possible time, then we're not as far behind as we think. In that case, everything can get back on track quickly."
Guardiola jokingly suggested that Gundogan become his assistant coach.
When asked if the German Football Association had extended an invitation, he said, "No, nothing except a joke Pep (Guardiola) made last year (laughs). He said I should play for a few more years and then become his assistant coach someday. But he doesn't have a job right now, so we'll have to wait and see. I still enjoy being on the pitch, contributing, and training. I still love playing as a player. In my current mindset, I'd like to play for a few more years, but that—especially at my age—could change today or tomorrow. I've already obtained my B-level coaching license. I really enjoyed the process and found it very interesting. After I finish my professional career, I'd like to go down that path and give it a try. I can imagine myself working for the German Football Association, whatever role I might play."
When asked about the possibility of him co-coaching Guardiola if he were to take charge of the Italian national team, he said, "He hasn't done so yet. For me, this is fine, so I don't have to make that decision (laughs). My relationship with Pep is excellent, that's obvious. We've always kept in touch and respect each other. The possibility of becoming Pep's assistant coach feels very suitable for me, but ultimately he will always have his own ideas about the future. The best way is to focus on myself first and prepare for all possibilities."
When asked whether he would rather play under Guardiola or Klopp again, he said: "It's hard to say. I spent more time under Guardiola. With Jürgen, I might have some regrets to make up for. Overall, it's very unrealistic for me to play for either of them again as a player, but I liked them both. I enjoyed their two different styles of football, but they are indeed different. Perhaps Jürgen's football suited me better in the early part of my career; Guardiola's football suited me better in the later part of my career because it didn't always rely on a lot of running, and it was more about playing with your brain."
When asked about his future, he said, "I don't want to plan ahead to next year. As things stand, I'm willing to continue playing and stay at Galatasaray because I feel very comfortable here. But it depends on many variables."
Bayern Munich will also sweep the league this season.
When asked if he would consider returning to Nuremberg, he said, "To be honest, I don't particularly want to play in the 2. Bundesliga again, although it's a very tough league. I have great respect for that league. But it also depends on where I am now. I'm currently playing for a club that plays in the Champions League, and I feel very, very comfortable at that level. However, it's always good to plan ahead. I've always maintained a very close connection with Nuremberg because that club has always held a very important place in my heart. I'm very grateful to that club and to the city. Of course, I can imagine going back someday, in whatever role. Whether it's playing for another year or two as a player, or as a manager or coach, it's all possible. But if we're really going to talk about this seriously, we need to have a deeper discussion to come up with the best solution for all parties."
Speaking about the upcoming Bundesliga season, he said, "Bayern will not make any mistakes and will sweep the league all the way this season. Bayern is the top team in Germany. To be honest, I don't see Bayern suddenly having any problems with this coach, players and management combination, or even giving Dortmund an opportunity. On the contrary, I see Bayern as a very serious contender for the Champions League title."
