Nathan Ake opens up on injury problems and Manchester City’s losing streak | OneFootball

Manchester City defender Nathan Ake has opened up on his own battles with injury this season so far, in addition to the club’s torrid run of form over the last four matches.

The Dutch defender has been a key component of Pep Guardiola’s defensive success over the last few seasons, offering stability in the club’s rearguard at both left-back and in the centre of defence despite early doubts.

Having joined the club in a big-money move from AFC Bournemouth, expectations were high on Ake and his debut season with the club was far from the level anticipated, with performances continuing to rise since.

Nathan Ake now finds himself as one of Manchester City’s most dependable options in defence, and a core option for Pep Guardiola in a number of positions, particularly on the left side of a back-four.

Speaking to Manchester City’s official club website earlier this week, the Dutchman explained the growing challenges of the Premier League as a competition, as Pep Guardiola’s side’s competitors continue to increase in quality and stature through investment.

“It’s been so tough this season, you see with Southampton and Wolverhampton, people think you’re just going to win easy but every game is tough in this league,” Ake indicated. “Every team plays out from the back and does well on the ball so it’s so difficult.”

The ongoing campaign has also brought about injury battles for the former Bournemouth defender, sustaining a hamstring injury during the October international break and suffering a minor aggravation of a similar issue during recent outings for Manchester City.

With a clear return date still unknown for the Netherlands international, he explained on his fitness battles, “For me, you just want to be able to play and do your thing so when you get injured it’s the worst, honestly.

“What you can do is make the most of it, take the positives, do things with the family that you normally couldn’t do. I think that helps you cope with it a little bit better. But it’s the most frustrating thing ever.”

He continued, “[Coming back, the team] get you through it but you’re not at the best level fitness-wise. The feeling is not the same as when you play every week, you have to get used to it again.

“Especially afterwards, dealing with the body, you get more doms [delayed on-set muscle soreness] when you haven’t played for a while so it affects you a bit. You’re trying to recover as fast as possible so it’s a bit of a hit. But it’s also the best feeling ever to be back playing again.”

Nathan Ake and Manchester City return to their hectic schedule this weekend as they host Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium with the intention of ending their four-game losing streak across competitions.

The two sides have already met once this season, with Ange Postecoglou’s squad knocking out the Premier League champions from the Carabao Cup at the fourth round stage in a 2-1 win in North London last month.