RETURN OF THE NAT
Blues era water under the Bridge
FORMER Blues defender Nathan Ake returns to Stamford Bridge tonight insisting he has nothing to prove.
And the Dutchman said his focus is on avoiding a repeat of their “worst” display of the season in the Sunday thrashing by Liverpool.
Ake joined Chelsea aged 16 but made only two Premier League starts for the Blues before Antonio Conte sanctioned his £20m sale to Bournemouth.
“It will be good to be back,” said the Dutchman. “I had a good time there but I have nothing to prove.
“It is not a big day for me personally. It’s just a game, a big game for us. We want to go to the semifinal and that’s all I want to think about.”
Ake was ridiculously voted man of the match at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday even though Philippe Coutinho and Mo Salah ran amok to leave Bournemouth just a point off the drop zone. “I felt I didn’t really play very well,” he said.
Eddie Howe’s side have now gone six games without a win and the Cherries defender added: “The Liverpool game was the worst we’ve played in the Premier League this season.
“On the ball we were not good enough. We had no energy levels and we couldn’t get close to them.
“I am confident we can turn it around. We had bad games last season and the game after we turned it around, so I think it’s good that we have a game so quickly.”
Cherries boss Howe has hit back at TV pundit Graeme Souness, who branded Bournemouth ‘naive’ for their attacking approach against Liverpool.
Howe said: “I have always done it my way and while I am manager that is what I will continue to do. You cannot be swayed by other people.”