Pep Guardiola has confirmed the absence of Nathan Ake this week for Manchester City’s Champions League semi final second leg against Real Madrid.
Nathan Ake has enjoyed his best season to date for Manchester City, with the defender becoming an integral part of Pep Guardiola’s defence this year.
Ake has struggled all season with various injuries that have prevented the Dutchman from playing every game and Guardiola confirmed on Tuesday that he will again miss out with an injury this week.
When questioned about his squad’s fitness ahead of Wednesday’s huge match, Guardiola responded: “Except Nathan, everyone is fit.”
𝘽𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙆𝙄𝙉𝙂: Nathan Ake is 𝗼𝘂𝘁 of #ManCity vs Real Madrid, Pep Guardiola has confirmed. pic.twitter.com/Zw9HboaRIr
— City Report (@cityreport_) May 16, 2023
Guardiola will be frustrated with Ake’s absence as he has been so good this season, but the full back is expected to be replaced by Akanji again on the left.
With the scores all level after the first leg, Manchester City have the chance to advance to the Champions League final yet again if they can beat the current holders.
“The emotion is there and the emotion will be high, it has to be high in these games,” he said. “But just this is not going to beat a team like Real Madrid. We have a gameplan and we have to execute it a little bit better than we did it in the first leg.”
“I know they’ll be close to us because they know what this team has done over the last years,” he added. “They will not leave us alone, I’m pretty sure.
“This is the challenge, we embrace it, we get it and go for it.”
Although Manchester City seem to have the Premier League wrapped up this season, there is still plenty of work to do if they are to achieve the European trophy that has eluded them for so many years.
Can Manchester City complete the treble?! 🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/VbZuWfiKQW
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 16, 2023
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