Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan insists it would only be ‘fair’ to crown Liverpool as Premier League champions, even if the 2019/20 season is not completed.
There are currently big fears on Merseyside that their incredible campaign could be taken away from them by the coronavirus crisis.
Last week, all 20 top-flight clubs agreed in an emergency meeting their priority was the complete the season in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, even if that meant playing games behind closed doors.
However, latest reports have claimed an increasing number of Premier League sides are in favour of cancelling the remainder of the season ‘on moral grounds’, with the UK Government’s lockdown and other developments meaning a return to action on April 30 is increasingly unlikely.
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand is among those who have publicly insisted the campaign should be scrapped.
That move would deny Liverpool a first title in 30 years.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are 25 points clear of defending champions Man City at the top of the table, and are just two wins away from being crowned champions.
And Gundogan says Liverpool deserve to be awarded the title after their stellar campaign, even if it is not completed.
“For me, that would be OK, yes,” the midfielder said in an interview with German broadcaster ZDF.
“You have to be fair as a sportsperson.
“There are different opinions. For clubs who have had a very good season, it obviously wouldn’t be nice if it was cancelled now.
“On the other hand, for clubs who aren’t doing as well and are maybe in the relegation places, an abandonment would obviously suit them.”
Premier League clubs are next due to meet on April 3, when it is likely the postponement of the season, currently April 30, will be extended for a third time.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said on Saturday that the 2019/20 campaigns across Europe could be lost if top leagues cannot be restarted by the end of June.
Brighton CEO Paul Barber says the Premier League is ‘100 per cent’ committed to finishing the season
Meanwhile, Gundogan said he would be prepared to accept a cut to his wages during the coronavirus crisis to help other club staff to be paid during the football blackout – as has happened at Juventus and Borussia Dortmund.
“Of course I think it’s OK, that goes without saying,” said the German.
“But there has been no discussion in England yet.”
