C/ league: Gundogan happy to face Dortmund without fans
Ilkay Gundogan has said Manchester City’s Champions League showdown with Borussia Dortmund will be less intimidating without fans present.
City only need a draw in Germany on Wednesday night to progress to the semifinals after a 2-1 win in the first leg at the Etihad Stadium.
Gundogan is aware of the atmosphere that can be created in the 81,000-capacity Signal Iduna Park but without supporters in attendance because of coronavirus protocols, the midfielder says his former club are at a disadvantage.
“First of all it changes the atmosphere,” Gundogan told a news conference on Tuesday.
“There is not really a connection between fans and players and in the games that can be quite important. When you may face difficult periods in a game a crowd is always able to give you another push and lift you in a bad moment.
“Going to Dortmund, facing Borussia Dortmund knowing that there is no crowd feels like it’s a bit of a disadvantage for Borussia Dortmund because I played there five years and I know how incredible the crowd is and the support is and how loud it can be also in that stadium.”
City are looking to qualify for the semifinals of the Champions League for the first since 2016 when Manuel Pellegrini’s side were knocked out by Real Madrid.
Under Guardiola’s watch there have been shock exits to Monaco, Tottenham and Lyon and Gundogan insists that to avoid another against Dortmund, City will have to learn how to “struggle” when things are not going their way.
“Maybe it is something we are not used to, going behind and conceding or struggling because we are used to dominating games always and having possession but it is completely normal in the Champions League,” he said.
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“There are games that it might not be that easy and that are fluent on the pitch. Mistakes are normal so just learning to deal with it is the only thing that was a little bit missing.”
City head into the game on the back of a surprise 2-1 defeat to 10-man Leeds United on Saturday.