Nathan Ake has played a key role in Man City quest for Premier League and Champions League glory

Nathan Ake admitted himself that his debut season for Manchester City was far from ideal.

The defender played just 13 games amid a campaign plagued with injury - not what he had envisaged when he arrived from Bournemouth in 2020. This time around, he has almost doubled his appearance tally already and has not picked up a single knock. What is most impressive about this is the mental toughness of Ake.

Quality players can wilt when transitioning to a mega-club in itself, never mind having to deal with hamstring injuries and crumbs of game-time. Tragically, the 27-year-old mourned the passing of his father in September, who died shortly after his son netted his first Champions League goal against RB Leipzig.

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Understandably, the player admitted it was “a difficult time” for him and his family. Ake had not played since the opening game of the Premier League before that Leipzig match but would go on to keep a clean sheet against Southampton three days later.

In fact, he kept a clean sheet in three of the next four league matches he featured in afterwards, which set up a memorable second half of the season. Ake has largely played a bit part role in Pep Guardiola’s plans but he has been of crucial importance since the beginning of 2022.

The Netherlands international produced a sensational goalline clearance from an ill-judged Aymeric Laporte defensive header that evaded the onrushing Ederson in the New Year’s Day match with Arsenal, harnessing the spirit of John Stones against Liverpool in 2019.

A last-gasp Rodri strike eventually won the game for City against the Gunners, elevating the importance of Ake’s crucial clearance. “I could