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"I'm happy, and I'm tired" - Manuel Akanji reflects on Manchester City debut

Home> City Xtra

Updated 12:50 4 Jan 2023 GMTPublished 12:25 7 Sep 2022 GMT+1

"I'm happy, and I'm tired" - Manuel Akanji reflects on Manchester City debut

Manuel Akanji has reflected on his Manchester City debut, after starting in Tuesday's Champions League win over Sevilla in Spain.

Harry Winters

Harry Winters

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Manuel Akanji has reflected on his Manchester City debut.

The 27 year-old, who completed a deadline day move from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City, made his debut for the Premier League Champions on Tuesday night.

Starting alongside Ruben Dias in central defence, the Swiss defender had an impressive debut, as City beat Sevilla 4-0 in their opening Group G match.

Erling Haaland opened the scoring with his 11th goal of the campaign midway through the first-half.

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City would cruise to victory in the second-half, with Haaland scoring his second, and Phil Foden and Ruben Dias also finding the back of the net.

Akanji was one of four City players to make their Champions League debut for the club on Tuesday night, with Haaland, Sergio Gomez and Kalvin Phillips also featuring.

Manchester City vs Sevilla (Image: PRESSINPHOTO SPORTS AGENCY/Alamy)
Manchester City vs Sevilla (Image: PRESSINPHOTO SPORTS AGENCY/Alamy)

Reflecting on his first 90 minutes in a City shirt, Akanji said: "I'm happy, and I'm tired... But obviously the most important thing is we got the three points, we kept a clean sheet as a team, and I'm really happy that I could help the team.

The guys made it really comfortable for me. I had a lot of space with the ball, always had an option to play a pass. I like to have the ball, to play passes from behind, and here with these guys with so much quality, it makes it look easy for me."

The Swiss international moved to City for £15 million last week, amid continued injury problems in central defence.

Aymeric Laporte remains sidelined due to an injury sustained last season, while both Nathan Ake and John Stones have suffered recent injury issues.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was also full of praise for Akanji, following Tuesday's Champions League Group Stage victory.

"A really good central defender that Man City bought. He did really well, his focus, attention. I see a quality quite similar to Aymer [Laporte], can break the lines with a pass. He read spaces really well. Very pleased for him," said the City manager.

Akanji made over 100 Bundesliga appearances for Borussia Dortmund, and could come up against his former club next week.

City welcome the German side to the Etihad Stadium next Wednesday, after being paired in Group G alongside Dortmund, Sevilla and FC Copenhagen.

The two sides last met in the quarter-finals in 2021, as City reached their maiden Champions League Final.

Discussing the prospect of coming up against his former club next week, Akanji said: "I'm really looking forward to the game, but the most important game is the next game, against Tottenham on Saturday.

First we've got to rest real quick, we've got to recover, and then the focus is fully on Tottenham."

Erling Braut Haaland and Manuel Akanji (Image: REUTERS/Alamy)
Erling Braut Haaland and Manuel Akanji (Image: REUTERS/Alamy)

City face Spurs in the Premier League on Saturday evening, with the Blues having the opportunity to move to the top of the table with a victory.

Featured Image Credit: PA Images / Alamy

Topics: Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, Champions League, Premier League

Harry Winters
Harry Winters

Sports Journalist.

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@harrywinters16

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