After an injury-riddled debut campaign at the Etihad Stadium, it is safe to say that Nathan Ake has come on leaps and bounds in his second full season at Manchester City.
While some may have assumed prior to the start of the 2021/22 season that the Dutch international would be on the periphery of things throughout the campaign, this could not be any further from the truth as the versatile defender emerged as one of Pep Guardiola’s most reliable options due to his ability to operate both as a centre-back and a left-back.
The 27-year old reflected on a successful campaign and opened up about his ambitions for next season.
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“This season, I was really 100% present and played more. You notice an improvement in yourself, how you play. I felt good."
Nathan Ake continued, while also providing a hint as to where his head lies ahead of the new season, as he told NOS, "I will go into next season with that intention. I will do everything I can to play even more for Manchester City."
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Despite Manchester City’s plethora of superstars often making the headlines throughout last term, Nathan Ake’s key contributions to the Blues’ successes last season cannot be swept under the rug.
The perfect example is the former Bournemouth defender’s heroic goal-line clearance against Arsenal on New Year’s Day that ultimately proved vital in the context of the tightly-contested title race.
Similarly, one of Nathan Ake’s most impactful displays came off the bench in Manchester City’s hard-fought 0-0 draw in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid, as he put in a strong shift at left-back to help his side grind out a result as they were under the cosh.
As the Chelsea academy graduate continues to get better and better at the Etihad Stadium, it would be unsurprising to see him gain an even bigger role in the 2022/23 season.
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Topics: Manchester City, Premier League