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Ilkay Gundogan: 'Packed schedule makes us stronger'

Gundogan: 'Packed schedule makes us stronger'
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Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan says that he is relishing the club's busy fixture schedule and hails the increased opportunities to play as City continue to charge on four fronts.

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has said that he is relishing the club's busy fixture schedule and hailed the increased opportunities to play as City continue to charge on four fronts.

Pep Guardiola's team, who defeated Burnley 4-1 to progress to the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, face Bristol City in the EFL Cup semi-finals on Tuesday evening looking to move closer to winning the first silverware of the season.

Gundogan, whose side who are also in the last 16 of the Champions League and are 15 points clear at the summit of the Premier League table, has said that the busy turnaround of fixtures provides opportunities for every member of City's squad.

"I think the more games we have, the more opportunities to change players," the German told the Manchester Evening News/em>. "If we have less games then a player, two or three players, will sit on the bench unsatisfied with their situation.

"But we have a lot of games and we just have to change because a player cannot play every single game. So if a player is playing more, he's going to be happier. That was also my own situation over the last month.

"I was quite sure we are going to have so many games coming and always have the opportunities for me to play, to get minutes, to get a rhythm. When I don't play I'm not the happiest person on Earth, but the next day I'm convinced my chance will come again and I'm going to play again. It's a positive thing being in more competitions."

City's League Cup tie is followed on Sunday by a clash with Liverpool at Anfield.

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Jonny Whitfield
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Sergio Aguero celebrates opening the scoring during the Premier League game between Manchester City and Burnley on October 21, 2017
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