Nathan Ake has promised Manchester City won’t be spooked by more bad refereeing against United in the first all-Manchester FA Cup final on Saturday.
City are still angry at the way they crumbled at Old Trafford in January’s derby having led until the last 12 minutes.
Pep Guardiola‘s players were so incensed that Bruno Fernandes‘ leveller was allowed to stand despite Marcus Rashford being offside, they lost concentration for Rashford to then score the winner four minutes later.
‘We scored in the second half and had it under control. We were on top until the equaliser,’ recalled Ake.
‘It was a surprise to everyone it was given. From our point of view, he was clearly interfering with play.
Nathan Ake has promised Man City won’t be spooked by more bad refereeing against United
City were left seething when Bruno Fernandes scored a controversial equaliser against them at Old Trafford in January
They were so incensed they lost concentration and allowed Marcus Rashford to win the game
‘After that, we lost ourselves a little bit. We wanted to score straight away, didn’t focus anymore and that is why we conceded the second.
‘But I think it has turned out to be a learning curve. We’ve learned from that moment not to panic when things like this happen.
‘They will happen in the future as well, it is about how we react because on that occasion we didn’t react well.
‘We take lessons from it into the next games, especially the important ones.’
United’s goal caused outrage because Rashford shielded the ball in an offside position to allow Fernandes to score.
Assistant Darren Cann put his flag up but referee Stuart Attwell overturned his colleague and awarded a goal because Rashford hadn’t touched the ball.
VAR didn’t overturn the decision but the PGMOL later apologised saying: ‘There seems little doubt that offside would have been a better decision.’
Though defeat didn’t cost City a hat-trick of league titles, the incident adds extra spice to the cup final.
Erik ten Hag’s United can stop City from emulating their historic 1998-99 Treble triumph
The Red Devils won the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup that season and City have the same achievement in their sights
With City chasing a repeat of United’s Treble of 1999, the red side will be determined to stop Pep Guardiola from matching their own managerial great, Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ake, one of City’s stand-out players this season at left-back, has returned to training after a hamstring injury and is confident of being available for Wembley and the Champions League final the following weekend
‘I feel good. Hopefully I will be involved on Sunday ( v Brentford) and then ready for the finals.
‘Manu (Akanji) has played well in that position so my focus is to make sure I am 100 per cent fit and available to the manager.’
One intriguing clash could be his Dutch World Cup team-mate, 6ft7ins Wout Weghorst who has found goals hard to come by at Old Trafford.
‘I think he is going to be a threat,’ warned Ake.
Ake has returned to training for City ahead of Saturday’s showdown at Wembley
He could come up against fellow Dutchman Wout Weghorst on Saturday
‘People see him and think he can only head the ball and stuff like that, but he is also very good with his feet when people play the ball into him.
‘He has shown his hold-up play is very good. It is never easy against players like that.’
Ake’s own form has been excellent after initially struggling following his move from Bournemouth.
‘Obviously the first season didn’t go personally as expected but I think from that I have grown and played more of a part,’ says the 28-year-old.
‘You come to this club to win trophies but to try and win three is just incredible.
‘I really enjoy working with the best manager in the world and the best players in the world too. ‘This team is incredible. I just want to keep it going.’
Ake says training will continue to be driven even though certain tackles may be more considered wirh big games ahead.
‘It is more about being sensible in certain situations, but it is very hard for people train at 50%,’ he explains.
‘Everyone is competitive, training will always be intense and you need that as well, that intensity for the last games.
‘ You can’t train at 50% and then play 100% at the weekend. But sometimes when you want to make a big challenge, maybe you think ‘Oh, maybe this is not the time’.’
And at least the dreadlocked defender doesn’t have to face his 52-goal team-mate Erling Haaland competitively.
‘He has all the attributes. Strong, powerful, technically good as well and obviously he can score goals,’ assesses Ake.
‘It is the same if you play him in training, it is always a tough ask. I think that is also how you get to know your team-mates. If you train against him, it helps you to learn the movements he likes to make in matches that you can use when you play with him.
‘I think it is good to have those battles. Certainly, he is a tough striker, he can come towards the ball because his link play is good but he can also run in behind you so you don’t want to go in too tight. He is very difficult to mark.’
