Ilkay Gundogan has been named Premier League Player of the Month for February, becoming the first Manchester City player to ever win back-to-back awards.
Gundogan had already won the January award, and he continued his fine form into February as City continued their winning run to a record-breaking 21 victories in succession.
Central to that form was Gundogan's scoring form from midfield, especially in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne. In February, he scored four times and was a worthy winner of the monthly award as City beat Burnley, Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal, and West Ham.
The 30-year-old saw off competition from City team-mate Joao Cancelo, as well as Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United, Leicester's Harvey Barnes and West Ham loanee Jesse Lingard.
Not only does Gundogan become the first City player to win back to back awards, he is the first German to do that in the Premier League. It's the first time City have won consecutive Player of the Month awards since 2016 when Sergio Aguero won the final award of 2015/16, and Raheem Sterling the first of 2016/17.
Upon winning, Gundogan said: “I am very proud to win this award again – but I am most proud of being part of this amazing team.
"To win all our games in February, like we did in January, is amazing. I get the sense we are playing really good football and being part of that makes me happy.
"Hopefully we can continue like this because, ultimately, winning trophies is what matters. I know all the squad want that to happen and we will try our best from now until the end of the season.”
Joining Gundogan with back-to-back recognition was Pep Guardiola, who won the second Manager of the Month award in a row after City's 100 per cent record.
The boss moves fourth on the all-time list for Manager of the Month awards with his ninth accolade, behind only David Moyes, Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson.
Meanwhile, City Women will face Barcelona in the Women's Champions League quarter finals after beating Fiorentina 8-0 on aggregate. If they progress past the Spanish side, they will play Paris Saint-Germain, Sparta Prague or Lyon in a potential semi-final.
