Ake: We can use past experience to bounce back
NATHAN AKE said no one at Manchester City is panicking after their season-opening defeat at Tottenham.
Champions City lost 1-0 to Spurs on Sunday, the fourth successive time Pep Guardiola’s side have lost at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
But Ake said last season’s experience, when City slumped to 13th after eight games before recovering to win the title by 12 points, proves what they can do when they get into their stride.
Ake said: “For sure we can use that experience from last season. You always want to win every game, but sometimes you have obstacles like this.
“It is a difficult start, but we know what we can do.We know what we have to do.At a club like this, we have to try and win every game.We went to Spurs to win the game and it didn’t go as planned.
“We just have to make sure we stay together and go again. We wanted to win the first one, that is clear, but we have to keep our heads up.” Defender Ake, who started against Spurs with John Stones on the bench following his exploits for England at Euro 2020, admitted few of City’s players emerged from the game with credit.
“Through the whole team we could have done better,” said Ake.
“We were sloppy a lot of times on the ball and that’s what brings the counter-attacks.
“For sure, we have to look at that this week and be ready for Saturday.” Guardiola’s side host newlypromoted
Norwich on Saturday, where £100million signing Jack Grealish, above, will make his home debut in front of a packed Etihad Stadium.
Ake was impressed with Grealish’s display at Spurs, despite the defeat, and said: “He was very good and very confident.
“He had a lot of good touches and brings a lot of threat to our attacking game.
“He will be a very good player for us for the rest of the season.”