Pep Guardiola has said Nathan Ake is feeling ‘much better’ but that the defender might not be ready for Manchester City’s trip to Fulham.
City will travel to London on Sunday for a Premier League clash with Fulham, knowing that the Premier League title race is now entirely in their own hands.
Guardiola’s side beat current table toppers Arsenal 4-1 on Wednesday, meaning they are just two points off the summit having played two games less than their title rivals.
A win in West London would see City move top of the standings, with Arsenal not playing until Tuesday when they take on Chelsea.
The performances of Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland lit up the Etihad Stadium midweek, but City’s defensive resilience has been key to their strong end-of-season run.
Nathan Ake has made a significant contribution to City’s 17-match unbeaten run, but he sat out the Arsenal match with a hamstring injury.
The Dutch defender picked up the issue during the second half of City’s 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich last week, and it’s not clear exactly when he will return.
Ake is doing well
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s game, Guardiola gave a positive update.
“He’s much better. He seems good, the symptoms are good. The player knows his body and the reaction,” Guardiola said.
However, the trip to Craven Cottage may come too soon for Ake as Guardiola revealed that he is “still not training with the team.”
When asked if Ake could return in time for City’s Champions League semi-final tie against Real Madrid next month, Guardiola seemed optimistic.
“I think it won’t be long [before he is back]. But maybe tomorrow comes and the trainer says he’s not training, but I think not.”
City will face the 14-time Champions League winners at the Bernabeu on 9 May, before playing the return leg at the Etihad Stadium on 17 May.
