Sat Apr 12 14:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Man City’s Gündoğan Blames Lack of “Desire” for Premier League Slump
**Manchester, England –** Manchester City midfielder İlkay Gündoğan has attributed the club’s underwhelming Premier League season to a lack of the fundamental “behaviours” that propelled them to four consecutive titles. While acknowledging the impact of injuries, such as Rodri’s absence, Gündoğan pointed to a dip in the team’s determination and intensity.
Speaking to ESPN, Gündoğan stated that City sometimes overemphasized tactics at the expense of core elements like aggression and desire. He explained, “In a lot of games, we gave too much importance to tactics and didn’t pay attention to our behaviour… that determination, desire, aggressiveness – simple things that are part of the game, but sometimes you overthink positioning and forget the basics.”
City’s recent resurgence, marked by an unbeaten run in their last four matches, offers a glimmer of hope. Gündoğan highlighted the hard-fought FA Cup victory over Bournemouth as a potential turning point, praising the team’s aggressive and physical performance. He emphasized the importance of collective effort, stating, “People credit beautiful goals, but they don’t credit working for the team, having the right mentality, fighting for each other.”
While a top-five finish and Champions League qualification remain uncertain, Gündoğan expressed optimism about City’s chances in their final seven league games, starting with a home match against Crystal Palace this Saturday. He believes the team has rediscovered its fighting spirit since the March international break.
First Piper 