Ilkay Gundogan the Latest Example of Manchester City's Improvement Under Pep

Even before Pep Guardiola had arrived at Manchester City and officially taken up the role as the club’s manager, his interest in Ilkay Gundogan was strong.

City's sporting director, Txiki Begiristain, met with Gundogan's uncle in Amsterdam back in March to discuss a deal. Guardiola was clearly desperate to land the German, a player he felt was key to the high-intensity pressing game he wanted to introduce at City.

It was similar to his pursuit of Thiago Alcantara when he took over at Bayern Munich in 2013. After taking a year’s sabbatical in New York, Guardiola returned to management in Bavaria and made Alcantara his primary transfer target.

He had worked with the midfielder at Barcelona and knew of his supreme ability to keep possession—to use the ball effectively and move quickly around the pitch. Alcantara proved to be a useful addition to a wildly successful Bayern team under Guardiola.

Gundogan finally made his debut for City on Wednesday, against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League in a resounding 4-0 win.

City bossed the game from start to finish and notched up their seventh win from seven games under Guardiola’s tutelage. As straightforward as the evening was, Gundogan managed to shine brightly, delivering a superb performance from midfield that belied the fact he spent the previous four months recovering from a dislocated kneecap.

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Sergio Aguero under Pep Guardiola:

Games: 5
Goals: 9

🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Co8TvEZp9A

— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) September 14, 2016"

He looked exactly the player City needed. Calm and composed, quick and intelligent—his use of the ball was outstanding. The ground he covered and energy he showed was remarkable given his period on the sidelines, and he looks capable of playing either a deep-lying role and controlling the play, as he did during his time with Borussia Dortmund, or featuring as a box-to-box player who drives the team’s attacks.

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Another #MCFC landmark tonight - Gundogan became the 1000th Ardwick/City player to appear in a competitive game.... https://t.co/6cgsXcyCym

— Gary James (@GaryJamesWriter) September 14, 2016"

He was so impressive and had such a significant influence that Guardiola used his post-match press conference to thank Begiristain for bringing the midfielder to the club. Rarely has a debutant looked so assured, always with time on the ball thanks to a wonderful first touch that buys him time and space.

He was taken off with 10 minutes of the game remaining, his match sharpness likely to be much improved after 80 minutes of dynamism and energy. To play the way Guardiola wants, City need tempo in their game, and he delivered it in abundance against Gladbach.

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

"That’s how good he is," Guardiola said afterward. "After three, four months out, David [Silva] had a problem in the morning and we spoke with him and he said 'I'm ready.'

"Midfield players of his quality are so intelligent. I thought he was not ready to play 90 minutes, but he played with the quality he has.

"Thank you so much to Txiki for buying him because he is going to be an important player for us."

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For player making his first appearance since the end of April, that was a pretty impressive debut from @Guendogan8 #MCFC

— Ian Irving (@ianirvingtv) September 14, 2016"

Sergio Aguero’s hat-trick took his tally to nine goals in five games under Guardiola, and he looks capable of becoming the goal-per-game striker he’s threatened to be throughout his time at City.

He’s a remarkable player, one unfazed in the penalty area and with a ruthlessness that makes him the most feared striker in English football, perhaps even the world. The Gladbach defenders couldn’t handle him.

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We spoke to @aguerosergiokun after the @ManCity striker put three past @borussia_en 🎤 #UCL pic.twitter.com/TEB6OdKrTO

— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 14, 2016"

Guardiola insisted after the game that there was more to come from Aguero.

"I wanted to convince Sergio that his talent in the box is natural," he said. "I cannot teach him that, but he has to know that behind [him], the rest of the team wants to help, and that is what I want to convince him."

The speed Guardiola is working at is remarkable. The bedding-in period most people felt he would need hasn’t been required at all.

Seven wins from seven. Twenty-one goals scored. Some of the football City have played has been magnificent. They have yet to complete a full 90 minutes of total domination, but when that happens—which it will—someone is going to be on the end of a serious hammering.

Dave Thompson/Associated Press/Associated Press/Associated Press

What he does need, though, is the fans right behind the team, and he expressed his concern at their dislike of UEFA and their booing of the Champions League anthem.

The City fans complete the ritual before each game in a show of defiance against the governing body for what they see as unfair treatment.

Guardiola said they need to forget the past and concentrate on helping his team reach their potential in the toughest knockout competition in world football.

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

"I was not here to see what happened, but they must forget what happened in the past," the City boss said. "All we can do is play better every time and people will say 'I [will] spend 90 minutes there and I have fun.'

"Today the stadium is not completely full, so the only thing we can do is play good so the people at home say 'wow—next time I will be there.' We have to be so proud to play in this competition. Coming here in three or four weeks are the best football players ever [in Luis Suarez] and Neymar and Barcelona, and we have to enjoy it. The people are listening, so I am sure they are going to do that.”

City’s start has been impressive—but the worrying thing for their opponents in the Premier League is that this is just the start. Guardiola is building something special and assembling a side capable of winning the Champions League.

This season will perhaps prove to be too soon for him to win this competition with City, but by the time his reign is over, they will be genuine contenders for the top prize, which is one of the main reasons the club brought him to Manchester.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and follows the club from a Manchester base. All quotes and information were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.