Musiala 'our most important' player, says Germany captain Gundogan

Germany captain Ilkay Gundogan commended forward Jamal Musiala following Wednesday's 2-0 victory over Hungary, describing him as "exceptional" and "a pleasure to play alongside".

Musiala provided an assist from Gundogan to break the deadlock in the first half and was instrumental in setting up a goal to secure the win for his captain in the second half.

The 21-year-old also found the back of the net and was named the man of the match in Germany's 5-1 triumph over Scotland in the tournament opener last Friday.

During his remarks on Wednesday, Gundogan showered Musiala with praise, highlighting the young player's impressive performance in his hometown while representing Germany for only the second time.

"To me, he is exceptional. Playing alongside him is truly a pleasure. He has the ability to surprise in any given situation and is a game-changer for our team.

"At the moment, he is perhaps the most crucial player for us, especially considering his young age. He excels in creating opportunities, delivering the final pass, and scoring goals, which he has recently added to his repertoire."

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann also commended the talented forward, sharing insights into how he has supported Musiala throughout his budding career.

Having previously coached Musiala at Bayern Munich, Nagelsmann assumed the role of Germany's head coach in September last year.

"I have had numerous discussions with Jamal both during his time at Bayern and now," the coach revealed, offering advice to the young player.

"I encouraged him to approach each game as if he were playing with his friends on any random pitch in Germany or England. He should focus on enjoying the game without feeling the weight of expectations. Today, he delivered an outstanding performance, much like he did against Scotland."