Gündogan ahead of the clásico: "For me, Vinicius is not a provocateur"

Ilkay Gündogan has just turned 33. After winning it all at Manchester City, he brings experience and mettle to a Barcelona side that is still in the making. After passing through Pep Guardiola's hands, he is now enjoying his time with Xavi Hernández and fulfilling a childhood dream. Wearing the Barça shirt is a big thing for the German international, who spoke to 'Esport 3' ahead of Saturday's clásico, his first for the club. 

"The young players are doing extremely well," he said. "On Saturday they will have another chance, but it's important that they know how to stay calm and have patience."

He adds, of the less experienced players, that "it will be a game with a lot of emotion, because it's a big game, maybe the biggest game of their lives so far. We will all have to be calmer and more patient than we have been lately. Matches can't turn into a back-and-forth like the Shakhtar game, because the penny can drop on either side if that's the case.

"We must be more in control. In the last few games, we have made simple mistakes that have cost us goals we could have avoided. With my experience, it's also my job to make them know how to stay calm."

PRAISE FERMÍN

More specifically on Fermín López, Gündogan considers that "he is doing very well. He is capable of finding good solutions in all kinds of situations. We are talking about a very good player who can be very decisive. He shoots well with the right, he shoots well with the left, he's good at making deep passes.... But he has to be able to find the necessary calm at times, and if he can find this balance, his level of play will be even higher, which will help him make even better decisions.

"I didn't come here to shine alone and be a superstar. I came here to help the team succeed and help my teammates to be better."

He also made a lance in favour of Vinicius: "Some may interpret Vinicius' actions as a provocation, but for me, honestly, they are not. Obviously, he knows that if he does these things he will be whistled at. But maybe he likes being whistled at, I don't know..."