Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha is confident that Nathan Ake’s qualities will serve the reigning Premier League title holders well this season after a forgettable 2020/21 campaign on the injury front.
Signed from AFC Bournemouth almost a year ago for a fee north of £40million, the 26-year-old experienced a hugely disappointing first season at the Etihad Stadium, seeing his opening year as a City player plagued by injury woes.
In total, Ake, who started City’s 2-0 pre-season friendly victory over Preston North End last night, was restricted to just 13 appearances in all competitions, with a serious hamstring problem ruling him out for much of the season.
Read More
Related Articles
Read More
Related Articles
However, despite City barely getting a chance to see Ake at full throttle last term, former Blues ace Onuoha is optimistic that Ake will make a fist of it this season, as well as highlighting just how much strength in depth manager Pep Guardiola has available to him when it comes to his centre-back options.
Onuoha told CityTV: “I think he is a very good player. I think when you’re at a place like Man City it is very easy to be forgotten about at certain times, because when you look at the centre-backs that were at City last season we’re talking about Ruben Dias and John Stones, and they were exceptional last year.
Harry Kane? Jack Grealish? Manchester City are aiming big this summer where transfers are concerned, as they aim to defend their league crown — and it could be a very exciting summer.
So make sure you don’t miss a single exclusive transfer story, analysis piece or feature by signing up to get City email updates direct to your inbox.
You can sign up here – it only takes a few seconds
“Then you have someone like Aymeric Laporte, who, again, was also exceptional. So how can you also have somebody else join that conversation?
“I think, for this year, health is going to be huge, because he did play a good number of games last season, but health is going to be huge as he can then show he can put his best foot forward.
“And I think he is one of those players that when he is doing so he is very, very good.
“For City to have that strength in depth, to think whoever plays back there it makes no difference, that is a great spot to be in. Touch wood, for him, he can have a better go of it this season and show people what he is all about.”
Read More
Related Articles
Read More
Related Articles
For Ake to have joined City in such a big-money deal, to have seen his first season at the Etihad Stadium plagued by injury woes must have been a devastating blow.
But as Onuoha has pointed out, injuries cannot necessarily be avoided. As well as that, the former City has also pointed out how much easier it can be for a player when playing regularly.
“You cannot necessarily control the injuries and things that happen to you and you also cannot select yourself, because there are plenty of times when you may not seen someone play for a month or six weeks,” Onuoha continued.
“That is not because they’re injured, it is just because they are not being selected.
“But I think the best feeling, for me, in terms of football is when you are playing week-in, week-out and you’re playing well, because everything is so easy; you have got no stresses, no worries, nothing.
“You are just out there, you’re comfortable, you get to the stadium, you’re so relaxed and everything else. But for other people, when they play every so often you are concerned and you’re hoping you can play well enough to be able to do this or be able to do that.
“Playing under those sort of constraints you never seem to be able to get the best out of people.”
Do you want an exclusive pre-season City preview – both in your inbox and through your letterbox? Head over here to find out more and secure your copy!
Read More
Related Articles
Read More
Related Articles
If you have questions,