Ilkay Gundogan reveals how Scott Carson convinced Man City they would win the Treble

Former Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan has revealed the confidence boost he received from Scott Carson ahead of the Champions League final.

Barcelona’s new boy led his team to the final part of a historic Treble after a hard-fought 1-0 victory at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, the same venue that played host to Liverpool’s dramatic European Cup win nearly two decades earlier.

Aside from the location, the other constant in both feats was City’s third-choice stopper Scott Carson, who similarly watched on in 2005 as Jerzy Dudek thwarted AC Milan’s Andriy Shevchenko to claim the crown for the Reds.

Gundogan, who completed his move to the Spanish champions this week, joked about how the 37-year-old’s conviction reassured him the Citizens would be triumphant in their date with destiny.

‘When we got on the bus over to the hotel, I was sitting near Scott Carson,’ he wrote in The Players’ Tribune following his Etihad exit.

‘And obviously he had been a part of that Liverpool team that came back from 3–0 down against AC Milan in 2005.

‘He said, “Don’t worry, boys. Every time I come to Istanbul, I leave with a Champions League trophy". With Scott in the squad, we couldn’t lose, I suppose.’

Carson, who initially joined City on loan in 2019, played an important role in Liverpool’s run to the final in 2005, turning out in a 2-1 quarter-final victory against Juventus at Anfield.

Though his late error which led to an away goal for the Italians did threaten to spoil a momentous night for the home team.

Nevertheless, the side progressed and would ultimately prevail later that month as Carson secured the first of his now two Champions League winners medals.

The veteran keeper also managed to earn four caps for England with his last coming in a 1-0 friendly win against Sweden in 2011.

Carson signed a new one-year contract extension with City in May despite failing to make a first-team appearance last year, while Gundogan waved goodbye to his home of seven years.

At the club the German made 304 appearances, scored 60 goals and amassed a remarkable trophy collection of five Premier League titles, four League Cups, two FA Cups and the Champions League.