Ake vows to push for a place in City starting line-up
NATHAN Ake says the competition for places at City will spur him on after making the step up from relegated Bournemouth.
Ake joined City at the start of the transfer window for £40m as a much-needed addition in central defence.
He joins Aymeric Laporte, Eric Garcia, John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi and Fernandinho as City’s centre-back options, with the club hoping to add another player in the position before the window closes.
But for Ake, the competition is a good thing, comparing the fight he has to start at international level to the situation he finds himself at his new club.
For the Netherlands, Ake has to compete with Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt, as well as Daley Blind. However, the latter two players are missing for next week’s Nations League fixtures, potentially handing Ake a chance to impress a new caretaker management team following the departure of manager Ronald Koeman.
Speaking to the media from the Dutch training camp, Ake said: “We all have top players, the competition is huge. That is good for Oranje [the Dutch national team], but I do want to push at City and Oranje.
“I have always been someone for taking on challenges . When I went from ADO to Feyenoord as a youth player. Then when I went from Feyenoord to Chelsea. Then I had to make important decisions. If you stay at the club, you go somewhere on a rental basis. I took the step to the top via Watford and Bournemouth.
“Manchester City is a great step. I
can work in several positions, just like with Oranje.”
Ake also spoke about how his transfer to City and Donny van de Beek’s move to Manchester United will benefit the national team, as well as offering an update on his own fitness ahead of the new season.
“That’s great for the Oranje, but not much will change for me,” he said of his transfer.
“I’m still the same guy and I still have to work really hard. I last played in July, but I can play, otherwise I wouldn’t have been here.’’