Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola reveals that Nathan Ake is “progressing well” but he does not intend to risk the defender ahead of finals in the FA Cup and Champions League next month.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that Nathan Ake is “progressing well” but he does not intend to risk the defender ahead of finals in the FA Cup and Champions League next month.
The Dutchman has missed each of the last four games in all competitions due to a hamstring problem picked up in a 2-1 win against Leeds United earlier this month.
Ake has been a standout performer for the Premier League champions and one of the first names on the teamsheet for Guardiola this season, starting 31 of his 38 matches across all competitions.
However, the 28-year-old is expected to miss City’s final two Premier League games away against Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday and away against Brentford on Sunday as he continues his recovery.
Guardiola has insisted that Ake cannot be rushed back into action having suffered with two hamstring injuries in a short space of time, but he has suggested that the defender could return around the time of next month’s FA Cup final against rivals Manchester United and Champions League final against Inter Milan.
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Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Brighton, Guardiola said: “[Ake is] getting better. I don’t know if he will arrive for tomorrow or for Brentford but he is in the latter stage (of his recovery).
“We have to be careful after a second time being injured. In case we need him for United of Inter.”
Man City’s clash with Brighton at the Amex Stadium is their first game since lifting the Premier League title in front of a carnival atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, following a 1-0 win over Chelsea.
The Citizens squad were able to celebrate their success together on Sunday night, but Guardiola is now keen for his players to regain their focus ahead of two of the biggest finals in the club’s history next month.
“The two teams we have to play in the Premier League, Brighton and Brentford deserve our attention and our credit,” said Guardiola. “We have some niggles. The finals are the main target. But we have to start completely focus in these two games. They are two really good teams and we have to do it.
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“I prefer to be already champion. They had the party after the game against Chelsea. I don’t know how they feel tomorrow. We will run a lot and suffer a lot.
“We’ll have days off but the moment we have to play the players set the standards we have to maintain it. We have used an incredible amount of energy.
“We had the FA Cup, Champions League, playing Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in Europe. Being behind Arsenal the energy we spent was massive. It’s normal.
“It doesn’t drop much otherwise the two teams they can hurt us and really hurt us. Playing our game and adapt. Then we can arrive after one week to United and Inter in the best condition.”
Guardiola has labelled Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi as ‘one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years’ ahead of Wednesday’s clash after the Italian successfully steered the Seagulls into Europe for the first time in the club’s history.
Man City will be confident of edging out Brighton having won 10 of their previous 11 league meetings against them, including a 3-1 victory at the Etihad earlier this season.
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