"I said many times Gündogan could play as a striker, like a false nine, and people laughed"

As already happened against Liverpool, Manchester City were tremendously superior to José Mourinho's Tottenham. Pep Guardiola's men won 3-0 with another stellar performance from Ilkay Gündogan, who got a brace.

The German now has 13 goals this season and was January player of the month in the Premier League. One of the keys to this second explosion of Gündogan has to do with his new role in the team, turned into a kind of false 9 in the City attack.

Although he is a centre-midfielder in the line-ups, then has total freedom to move around the front line. Sometimes he pivots, sometimes he breaks into space and even reaches the byline. And he's doing a great job in this role.

After the match at the Etihad Stadium, Pep Guardiola was delighted to have given the former Borussia Dortmund player a new lease of life: "I said many times he could play as a striker, like a false nine, and people laughed".

"Today it was the action for a clear penalty and after he had the quality to score the two goals. He has the tempo to arrive there. He is so good in these moments. He won the award for player of the month. If he keeps playing this way in February, he is going to win it again", Pep added.