'We were clearly the better team' - Ilkay Gundogan launches defence of Galatasaray as ex-Man City star explains collapse in 5-1 Champions League demolition

Galatasaray got off to the perfect start in Frankfurt when Yunus Akgun scored just eight minutes into their first game of the competition. However, a Davinson Sanchez own goal tied the game after 37 minutes, and the Bundesliga club ended the first half with two stoppage time goals to put them fully in control at the break.

Gundogan has claimed Galatasaray were "clearly the better team" before the mental collapse that resulted in the stunning 5-1 demolition. Speaking to DAZN after the match, the former City captain expressed his frustration at the simple mistakes and poor reaction from his side after conceding the equaliser.

The 34-year-old midfielder, who joined the Turkish giants in the summer, was positive about his team's initial performance but was critical of their response to adversity. He pinpointed Frankfurt's first goal as the moment the game turned, suggesting his team's spirit broke after the setback.

"I think we were clearly the better team until the 1-1 score - we even had chances to score the second goal," Gundogan began. "Then we conceded the 1-1 and you could already see on the pitch that their heads were hanging down and that their courage was somehow lacking."

Galatasaray conceded two more goals in the second half, with Gundogan admitting the defeat was self-inflicted. He stated that errors at this level will always be punished and that Frankfurt were clinical in taking their chances.

"It felt like we invited Frankfurt every time we conceded, simply giving them away," a disappointed Gundogan said. "In the Champions League, every opponent has the quality to punish these errors. If you make the first, the second, the third, then you'll be punished at some point. Frankfurt did that coolly today and scored five goals accordingly. It just wasn't good enough overall."

The heavy defeat is a significant blow to a Galatasaray side that invested heavily in the summer, bringing in established top-level talent like Gundogan and Leroy Sane, who set up their goal, to compete in Europe. The midfielder issued a call for his team to function better as a unit to achieve their objectives. 

"We have a lot of individually strong players who can play at a very, very high level. We have to manage to bring that to the pitch as a group," he added. The Turkish club's aim remains to qualify for the knockout phase, with seven games remaining in the Champions League's new league stage to turn their campaign around.