Making Sense of Nathan Ake to Manchester City
Continental performances could potentially resurrect their season, however, without European triumph the 2019/20 season shall be one to forget for City and their fans alike. The second largest point differential in Premier league history separated champions Liverpool and the blue half of Manchester, while FA Cup semi-final defeat to a faltering Arsenal left a rather bitter taste in the mouth of Pep Guardiola’s men. The dwindling reputation of the League cup means little credit will be given to the victory achieved in this such competition.
Having watched City numerous times this season, it is clear to even the most casual of football supporters that the defensive capabilities of Manchester City is where the frailty lies. A lack of a quality defensive screen means the Citizens defence is often called to action more than it should be. When viewing the stats, the four time Premier League champions surprisingly hold the second best defence in terms of goals conceded and the best when looking at XG against. Perhaps it highlights the problem is individual mistakes and certain liabilities, rather than an overall systemic problem.
While Rodri has failed to fill the seismic shoes of City legend Fernandinho, the knee injury suffered by talismanic central defender Aymeric Laporte left Guardiola and Txiki Begiristain ruing the decision not to bring in a replacement for long standing captain, Vincent Kompany. Instead, the 2019 domestic treble winners were left with three fit senior centre backs, Nicolas Otamendi, John Stones and Eric García, you tell me where the title winning combination lies within those three…Fortunately for the Blues, Fernandinho’s immense versatility aided them in Suring up their back four.
Essentially, Pep took the phrase “offence is the best form of defence” to the next level. Foregoing any fitness concerns to churn out a relentless and violent press, that was most recently seen in brutal effect against Spanish champions and 13 time Champions League winners, Real Madrid.
The Ability of Nathan Ake
Standing at 5ft 11 with a slant figure, this description gives away the sort of defender Nathan Ake has proven to be. Relying much more on visually pleasing tackling, superb positioning and an acute awareness of danger, the Dutchman is far from a stereotypical physically intimidating defender. Throughout his career, Ake has joined up well with a more physical partner, working in tandem to shut out any offensive threat. Steve cook, Simon Francis and Craig Cathcart have all gelled well with the silky Dutchman.
While his defensive actions do not leap of the page, it can be hard to fathom a definitive conclusion through these statistics, based on the differentiating nature of each central defender. However, one aspect of his game that can be deciphered through numbers is his passing. Third for passes per 90 at Bournemouth this year, boasting the highest accuracy. This is a likely factor that drew Pep towards the former Chelsea man.
Having the ability to play out of defence is a sought after talent in the modern game, and with a pass completion rate of 87.1% and a long pass completion rate of 81.3%, Ake holds this component in abundance. The Europa League medallist holds an aura of confidence when on the ball, gracefully pick pocketing unexpectant attackers before churning out a quick pass for a counter attack. Just two errors leading to a shot in the past three seasons unequivocally demonstrates his tranquillity when responsibility is placed on his shoulders.
How will he fit in at Manchester City
Barring injuries and a change of formation, Nathan Ake will partner Frenchman, Aymeric Laporte flanked by any combination of Kyle Walker, Joao Cancelo, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Benjamin Mendy. It is extremely unlikely the former Bournemouth defender will face a much competition, with John Stones out of favour at the Etihad, Eric Garcia hounding for a move and the inevitable decline of an ageing Nicolas Otamendi, at this point in time there is a clear defensive hierarchy imprinted in the back line of Pep Guardiola’s defence.
Both Laporte and Ake are elite ball playing centre backs and read the game well. However there is potential for weaknesses to arise when combining these two. Neither hold an overly steaming physical stature. Laporte, standing at 6ft 1 is averagely sized for a Premier League centre back, while his partner to be can be placed on the smaller side. The Frenchman boasted the best aerial win percentage out of the two of them last year ranking in the 66th percentile across Europe’s top five leagues, however this is slightly mediocre for a team that has struggled to defend set pieces and physical forwards over the past few seasons. A further point of concern is the left footed nature of both players. While the pair are still capable on their opposite side, this may lead to teething problems at the start of their relationship.
In the grand scheme of things Nathan Ake is a smart example of recruitment from Manchester City. The 2019 domestic treble winners have their hands on a smooth, silky defender entering the prime of his career, while he also holds resale value should the move end up going south. £41 million seemed a tad steep when considering Bournemouth’s move back down to England’s second tier, yet the speed of the deal and the length of time the former Cherries man has to settle in compensates for that. City desperately needed some additional security for their backline, with the impending retirement of Fernandinho and the consistent injury issues suffered by key defensive personal, Nathan Ake will prove to be a shrewd piece of investment.
