Gundogan impressed by City defence

Ilkay Gundogan says he has been impressed as much by Manchester City's defensive stability as their attacking prowess this season.

Pep Guardiola's side top the Premier League table going into Saturday's game against champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, which is live on BT Sport 1 [kick off 5.30pm], and have netted 16 goals in their last three league matches against Liverpool, Watford and Crystal Palace.

But City midfielder Gundogan, who came off the bench in Tuesday's 2-0 Champions League home win over Shakhtar Donetsk, also points out that their much-maligned defence have kept five clean sheets in their last six games.

"At the back too we have conceded few, so our defence has also done a great job in the last weeks," the Germany international said.

"It's a combination of both and that's a really good recipe to win games."

The 26-year-old says high-spending City need to "prove" themselves every match, and believes Saturday's game against the champions will be a good test of where they are as a team. 

"It's a huge game and it's away, so it's even more difficult, but we feel ready," he continued.

"If you ask the manager there is always something to improve but we know that we are a great team, we have great players and it's just up to us to prove that every fourth day.

"It's also about character, going to Stamford Bridge against the champions to play our game.

"We're going to prove that we are ready for that and hopefully it wil be a great game for us."

Gundogan, who only returned to the City first team at the start of September after almost nine months out with knee ligament damage, admits he was relieved man after the knock he receved on his knee in last week's 2-1 Carabao Cup win over West Brom proved not to be too serious.

"I'm just happy that I returned that quickly after that hard tackle," he said.

"I tried to train on the Friday and I still felt a little bit in my knee.

"Saturday [City's game against Crystal Palace] it was not possible to be in the squad but I trained Sunday and Monday and I felt good, so I'm just happy to return that quickly."

Manchester City's Premier League game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, 30 September is live on BT Sport 1 on the eir Sport pack [kick off 5.30pm].

Photo Getty Images/ Michael Steele

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