Having been rejected at the age of eight by Schalke, Ilkay Gundogan, is relishing returning here with Manchester City in what could potentially be a one-sided Champions League clash tonight. While Pep Guardiola's high-flying City are top the Premier League table, their opponents in the last 16, first-leg clash, Schalke, are just above Bundesliga's relegation places and struggling to score goals down in 14th place.

Like City's Germany winger Leroy Sane, Gundogan, 28, began his career at Schalke's academy, but despite having been rejected as a child after only one season, there will be no element of revenge come kick-off at the Veltins Arena. "I have [forgiven them], but it wasn't always so," Gundogan told German magazine Kicker with a grin.
"At the time, due to growth spurts, I had physical problems and couldn't play any sports for six months, so I dropped out. Three or four years later, Schalke tried to contact me, but I was a bit resentful."