Manchester City fell to their first defeat in the Premier League yesterday against Wolves – and it was not a good day for Nathan Ake.
City’s 100% record in the league is gone, after they were stunned by a brilliant Wolves at Molineux.
City dominated the ball and created a plethora of chances.
But the overall quality of those chances was poor.
And Wolves set up very effectively, with manager Gary O’Neil going to a back three and setting up to counter.
The frontline of Matheus Cunha, Hwang Hee-chan and Pedro Neto was dangerous throughout.
Neto really shone, and ESPN pundit Craig Burley believes Nathan Ake will want to quickly forget about yesterday’s game…
Craig Burley says Nathan Ake was exploited yesterday
Wolves had a lot of speed up top with that trio.
Neto is very quick, and that speed was on show for the opening goal.
The Portuguese blitzed away from Phil Foden and then Ake, before he forced an own goal from Ruben Dias.
Ake looked really shaky yesterday, which is not something that is very common.
City fans have seen him develop into one of the Premier League’s most consistent and solid defenders.
But he’s never been the quickest, and Burley said of him (via ESPN FC YouTube): “They struggled with Ake at left-back. Neto had his measure all the time on the counter-attack.
“When City’s passing was poor, they exploited City’s left-back position in particular.”
Gabby Agonlahor also felt that Dutchman Ake had a tough afternoon at Molineux.
Ake weakness came to the fore yesterday
Ake was been tremendous for City over the last 12 months or so.
Bad games for the £41 million star don’t come around very often. But he definitely had a tough time yesterday.
There aren’t many weak parts of his game.
But he does have a lack of pace which was exposed by Neto.
After the first goal for Wolves, Ake looked very uncomfortable defending against Neto.
It would have been interesting to see if Josko Gvardiol would have fared any better in that moment.
