It has been quite the seven days for Ilkay Gundogan.
An interview published at the back end of last week contained the midfielder's view that he feels underrated in the German national team. "I also understand that I just missed too much," he offered. "People in the national team are watching the tournaments and I only played in 2012 and 2018."
On Sunday the 28-year-old started alongside Rodri and David Silva in the Manchester City midfield, and was slammed for his performance as Wolverhampton Wanderers claimed a shock but deserved victory. Statistics were dug out by fans to make their point that the team suffers more when he starts.
To compound matters, he suffered a muscular problem that rules him out of Germany's friendly with Argentina on Wednesday - so no more recognition will be immediately coming on that front.
Gundogan has work to do with both aspects of the national team, having been booed by some Germany fans last year after posing for a photo with Turkish president Recep Erdogan and also struggling to nail down a first-team place.
He has not had to worry about playing time under Pep Guardiola. The manager's first City signing has kept Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri and David Silva all out of the team this season after committing to a new contract that keeps him at the club until 2023.
Guardiola completely appreciates his game; as he said recently: "He is exceptional. He is one of the best signings in this club’s history." Such support is unlikely to waver any time soon but it will be more difficult to win the fans back on side.
That Gundogan's best qualities involve ticking possession along or ghosting into attacking opportunities does not help his bid to be noticed - and make it easier for people to think he has gone missing when things don't go to plan. For supporters to be taking the time to highlight win percentages or lack of creativity when he is in the team doesn't do much for positive recognition either.
City's manager will not be swayed by popular opinion so the midfielder should get many opportunities to show his worth. With that platform, Gundogan needs to win over the Etihad support, convince Joachim Low that he is worth considering for the Germany team at Euro 2020, and hope that all that is a lot more straightforward than it sounds.
