For Manchester City, Nathan Aké has established himself as a dependable defender. The progress of the 27-year-old Dutchman toward the World Cup is also visible on the national team.
Nathan Aké discusses his journey with Manchester City
“I have gained a lot of knowledge, both on and off the ball, about tactics and how I conduct myself on the field. Regarding his progress Aké said to The National, “Everything has altered a little. For me personally, my first season at City was not great, in part because of ailments. After those wounds, you feel the need to overachieve and prove yourself. However, you won’t play your typical game that way, and you’re more likely to make blunders.
Exciting times are ahead for the Aké family with the World Cup drawing near and a newborn on the way. Aké attributes a lot of his success with the Orange squad to Pep Guardiola. Pep treats defenders harshly. He is great in defence as well as thinking about attacking. He was not pleased with the matchup versus Manchester United.
Despite his development, Ake occasionally has to make do with a seat on the bench in Guardiola’s rotation scheme, much like practically every player. “At first, it was challenging because you occasionally worry that he doesn’t think you’re playing well. However, you realise it later. When I first arrived, Pep told me that when you visit City, it’s all about the team’s performance.
When Aké first started at City, more than two years ago, he was particularly taken aback by the welcoming atmosphere. “I never imagined there would be such a sense of unity. It’s accurate, though I’m sure many people would agree with their club. You initially believe there are many stars when you arrive. I imagined that there might be additional linguistic groups or cliques. But when I arrived here, it was really a revelation. The staff and players were all very kind. I was surprised by it,” the defender concluded.
