“I’m confident” – City can perform to a high level against Manchester United says Ilkay Gundogan after Cup exit

Ilkay Gundogan is ‘confident’ that Manchester City can put in a good performance against Manchester United on Saturday lunchtime, speaking after their Carabao Cup exit this week.

Erik ten Hag’s side will present a stern challenge for Manchester City in a high-level Premier League title race, but also provide the reigning champions with the perfect opportunity to bounce back from a crushing exit in the Carabao Cup.

The English top-flight’s rock bottom side built upon their FA Cup third round triumph against Crystal Palace with another cup win, as they reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a victory against Manchester City.

An impressive first-half showing from the Saints was capped by two goals in five minutes, as Sekou Mara’s 23rd minute strike was added to via a long-range Moussa Djenepo effort from distance that lobbed a stranded Stefan Ortega Moreno.

Speaking on the south coast after the 2-0 defeat to Southampton, Ilkay Gundogan stressed his confidence at Manchester City being able to offer a good performance against their bitter rivals, despite their showing in the League Cup.

“I’m confident that we’re going to be able to put in a good performance on Saturday in that big Derby, away at Old Trafford,” admitted Gundogan.

“I think we have always done really well in recent years, even though we know that we are probably playing against the best United side of recent years as well, full of confidence, full of commitment. It feels as if their team is starting to click with each other, so it’s not going to be easy at all.

The City captain continued, “But again, it’s a possibility for us to do things much better, to first of all, put in a good performance. But then also, obviously a good result, because as I said before, this is what we need. We need to be ready for Saturday.”

One man who will be hoping he has done enough to give Pep Guardiola confidence across the remainder of the season that he can be counted upon is Kalvin Phillips, who made his first start for Manchester City on Wednesday night since his summer move from Leeds United.

While Gundogan admitted that the clash at St Mary’s was ‘not the easiest’ game for his midfield teammate to return from injury in, the Germany international highlighted how City will require everyone to be involved from now until the end of the season.

“We need everyone involved. Obviously today was maybe not the easiest game for Kalvin to get into the starting eleven again. But we know how important he can be for us. And so we need everyone involved, we need everyone fit, we need everyone on the highest level, and I think for him it was good to get a good amount of minutes after such a long time because it’s never easy to come back from major injuries.”

“I know that myself, from my experience. So I think every game, every minute, will help him. We could have made it better for him, unfortunately, today with a good result. But it is what it is now.

“I just wish everyone to stay fit, and of course to train well, and to play at the highest level because this is what we need at the end of the day, if we want to succeed this season.”

Manchester City take on Manchester United in their next match, as the Blues travel to Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, with an intense January fixture list that still includes home clashes against Tottenham and Arsenal in the Premier League and FA Cup respectively.