Nathan Ake has shared some behind-the-scenes details on what Pep Guardiola did ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League final clash against Inter Milan.
After securing the Premier League title and the FA Cup last season, the Citizens topped it off by winning their first Champions League trophy thanks to a 1-0 win over Inter.
With the Blues now on the hunt to regain the three titles they picked up last term, one player has shared some insight into what it’s like to try and be a regular starter during such a crucial stage of the season.
Ake shares what Guardiola did before Champions League final
Speaking in a recent interview with the Manchester Evening News, Ake had this to say about what it’s like trying to keep hold of a place in City’s team and what Guardiola did ahead of the Champions League final against Inter.
He said: “The hardest thing in this team is to stay fit and be available and that’s one of the big priorities of this team. The manager wants that of you as well because if you have many injuries obviously it becomes harder to win things and you have to give everything to stay fit.
“It’s difficult because you’re more nervous when you don’t play than play. Now I understand what it’s like for the fans who can’t make an impact on what is happening.
“I was very nervous [watching against Real Madrid] so I didn’t really focus on how we were playing as such but after when you watch the game back you think ‘Yeah, we were playing top’. And then you’re thinking I hope I get my place back!
“You do wonder if you’re going to make it but luckily I was back just before. I played the week before the Cup final, 60 minutes against Brentford and then was on the bench for the FA Cup and then it was like am I going to play in the Champions League final?
“The night after the training the manager pulled everyone together and he named the team in front of everyone. You’re in or out so it was a great moment to be selected.”
Looking back over City’s treble-winning season, Ake featured in 41 games across all competitions and completed the full 90 minutes in six of the eight Champions League games he featured in, inclduing the final.
Having missed the two semi-final clashes against Real Madrid through injury, the fact that Guardiola picked Ake to start in the final instead of Kyle Walker, who put in an impressive display in the home match against Carlo Ancelotti’s side by keeping Vinicius Junior quiet, shows how much belief the manager has in the Dutchman.
With the defender then going on to help his side keep a clean sheet in the match and ultimately win the title, thus making him part of the club’s history, it’s understandable why Ake feels so positively about his inclusion in the starting XI.
