It's not difficult to understand why Pep Guardiola loves Nathan Ake. The defender is versatile, reliable and never complains.
He is a team man at Manchester City and in Guardiola's book, that is almost everything. The 29-year-old has played only three minutes across two substitute appearances so far this season, but there is always a time when Ake is required, either at left-back or centre-back.
Guardiola has called him a "proper defender" in the past and before Josko Gvardiol's arrival, Ake became a duel-winner supreme on the left, stopping Bukayo Saka and Mohamed Salah in their tracks.
He played second fiddle to Gvardiol last season but that versatility still meant he started the majority of games, beginning 35 of City's 59 matches.
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