Man City’s Nathan Ake: Eddie Howe has the ‘Pep’ effect on players

Manchester City’s Nathan Ake believes Eddie Howe has the Pep Guardiola effect as he oversees Newcastle’s rise among the Premier League’s leading clubs.

The Magpies missed out on their first domestic trophy in 68 years when they lost the English League Cup final to Manchester United last Sunday.

But they remain in contention for a top-four league spot as they visit Guardiola’s second-placed side at the Etihad on Saturday.

Since Howe replaced Steve Bruce 16 months ago, Newcastle have gone from battling relegation to the chance of Champions League football for the first time in 20 years.

They are currently fifth, four points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, but with two games in hand.

Ake is not surprised by Howe’s impact on Tyneside, having played under him for four seasons at Bournemouth before he joined City for $48 million in 2020.

“You can see the way they are growing,” Ake told Arab News exclusively.

“They do business very well, with the manager, and everything they do at the moment seems to fit. He always wants the right people — the same as he did at Bournemouth, the ones he wants.”

“He was top for me, we had a very good relationship, and still do when we see each other,” he added. “To see him doing well is so good to see. He was a fantastic manager, not just tactically, but also demanding things of his players.”

Ake says that Howe has transformed and it is clear that “everyone wants to play for him.”

“He’s like Pep, that he gets the best out of players. He’s done that with so many players at Bournemouth, who came with him up from League Two to the Premier League — he made them better and you can see that now. I always thought he would be at a top club,” he said.

“At the moment Newcastle are a tough team.