Ilkay Gundogan was delighted to see Scott Carson come on against Sporting because of his level of performance in training as much as his popularity in the squad.
Carson has been at the club for nearly three years and has established himself as a key figure in the dressing room but his only start came away at Newcastle last year in the Premier League game directly after the Blues had been crowned champions. For all Pep Guardiola values the player, he is very rarely needed on the pitch.
With City 5-0 up on aggregate in their Champions League last-16 tie, the third-choice keeper replaced Ederson for the final 20 minutes to give the crowd something to cheer about and mark his first appearance in the competition since 2005 when he played for Liverpool. He also produced a crucial save in Paulinho, taking a whack in the process, to mean City avoided defeat on the night.
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While Carson's importance off the pitch has been well-documented, Ilkay Gundogan highlighted the respect he still commands as a player. The 36-year-old not only pushes Ederson and Zack Steffen in training but also holds his own in a squad that is stacked with some of the best in the world.
"I would say he's one of our most popular players. He's not just a great guy and a great character to have in the dressing room - which is very important for the atmosphere - but he is still a great player," said Gundogan.
"He is training so good, so well. He always shows his qualities in the training sessions on the line, saving balls, making incredible saves.
"He's not just here to be the good guy or the popular guy. He also helps Eddy and Zack a lot in the training sessions and in the games. If he is needed, he is there.
"I'm very happy for him that he was on the pitch today for a few minutes because he deserves it. It's good to have him in the squad."
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