Pep Guardiola compares Manuel Akanji debut to Man City teammate

In Manuel Akanji, Manchester City have signed a player with similar qualities to Aymeric Laporte, according to Pep Guardiola.

Akanji was a £15m deadline day signing from Borussia Dortmund, and made his City debut in the 4-0 win over Sevilla, impressing at the back alongside Ruben Dias.

With Kyle Walker and John Stones out to go with Laporte's longer-term absence and Nathan Ake's recent return from injury, Akanji was picked alongside Dias at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium in the Champions League. He looked calm on the ball, made some useful interceptions and was even a threat in attack on occasion.

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And Guardiola said that he is delighted with Akanji's arrival, and praised his debut against Sevilla - even likening him to Laporte.

"We are delighted, just one day and a half in training," Guardiola said.

"He showed in Dortmund his experience in Europe. A really good central defender that City bought to us. He did really well, his focus, attention. I see a quality quite similar to Aymer, he can break the lines with a pass. he read the spaces really well. I am very pleased for him."

However, Guardiola hinted before the game that Akanji may have to wait for a Premier League debut, suggesting he may recall Nathan Ake against Tottenham on Saturday.

He told BT Sport: "He has experience of playing many years in the Champions League so with the absences that we have and protect[ing] some players for future games, we decide for him."

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