After limping off during their preseason match against Bayern Munich, Nathan Ake has given Manchester City injury concern heading into the new season.
As City prepares to defend their Premier League title, Pep Guardiola is concerned about Ake, who played for barely half an hour in City’s 2-1 victory over the Bundesliga champions in Japan.
After a harmless clash with Bayern’s Kingsley Coman in the first half, the Dutchman, who had started the game at the Japan National Stadium, collapsed.
While on the pitch after falling to the ground clutching his right ankle, Ake found it difficult to recover from the blow.
Just 30 minutes into the game, Guardiola took action in response to Ake’s uneasiness. He took no chances and substituted Manuel Akanji in place of the defender.
The fact that Ake was able to hobble off the ground without the aid of a stretcher would have given City hope that Ake had not sustained any significant injuries.
When City achieved an unprecedented treble last season, the 28-year-old was among the team’s most reliable players.
In a season in which Guardiola primarily used him as a left-back, he made 41 appearances and scored three goals.
Josko Gvardiol, a Croatian defender who has been one of City’s main targets this summer, may join the team as a result of Ake’s injury.
It was thought they were close to bringing the RB Leipzig centre-back to the Etihad in club record £90m deal, but the German’s club chief said earlier this week that no agreement was in place between the two clubs.
Without Ake, Man City nonetheless managed to defeat the defending Bundesliga champions, earning their second straight triumph while touring Asia.
For City, James McAtee scored the game’s first goal while on loan to Sheffield United during the previous campaign. after Yann Sommer’s stop of Julian Alvarez’s attempt, tapping from close range.
With nine minutes remaining, Bayern’s French forward Mathys Tel tied the score, but City defender Aymeric Laporte’s goal put an end to the contest.