Is Tijjani Reijnders the Perfect Replacement for Ilkay Gündoğan at Manchester City?
Tijjani Reijnders: Manchester City’s New Midfield Evolution
Tijjani Reijnders has rapidly turned into one of the top widely discussed signings of the season, since he joined Manchester City from AC Milan. The Dutch international encounters the formidable challenge of taking over the position left behind by Ilkay Gündoğan, his initial performances reveal he has the quality and mentality to excel under Pep Guardiola
Reijnders’ style of play relies on a combination of technical excellence and tactical awareness, and his versatile passing skill, vision for incisive passes and composure in possession reflect the qualities that made Gündoğan so vital to City’s dominance.
Significantly, his Football IQ in exploiting gaps enables him to control games in the rapid tempo of the Premier League.
Why Reijnders Brings a New Dimension
City fans remember Gündoğan for his perfectly timed late runs into the box that produced crucial goals. Reijnders shows the same instinct, but his goal-scoring record at AC Milan even surpassed Gündoğan’s most prolific season at the Etihad. That makes him a far greater attacking threat from deep midfield, a quality Guardiola has long valued in his system.
The distinction becomes clear, however, in their style of ball movement. Gündoğan mastered possession and precise passing, while Reijnders thrives on penetrative drives and defensive disruption. Tijjani Reijnders injects tempo and unlocks defences, which can drive the ball forward with power and precision. Unlike passive possession, his progressive style, might be key to Manchester City in both the Premier League title race and the Champions League.
Tactical Impact Under Pep Guardiola
Guardiola is confident in starting quick counterattacks, anticipates play effectively under pressure and consistently chooses wisely under close marking. Reijnders is a perfect fit for Guardiola’s strategic setup and his quick influence on City’s midfield, adding vital tempo, offensive sharpness and an intense pressing game. His quick adaptation to English football reflects beyond his skill, but also his psychological strength, a Vital quality for long-term success in the Premier League.
This is not a direct replacement; Reijnders doesn’t just step into Gündoğan’s role. He reshapes it. Gündoğan offered elegance and control, while Reijnders delivers energy, decisiveness and more clinical presence. His systematic approach feels built for progressive football, where the midfielders must have balance creativity, pressing and final execution in equal measure.
IMPACTOTRENDING’S VERDICT
Tijjani Reijnders is not merely filling Ilkay Gündoğan’s boots, he may well be upgrading them. His balance of intelligence, work rate, and attacking output makes him the ideal midfielder for Guardiola’s evolving tactical blueprint. With his superior goal threat, forward drive and tactical fit, Reijnders looks capable of taking Manchester City’s midfield into an entirely new era.
City may have lost a legend, but they may have found a player in Tijjani Reijnders who could be even better.
