Borussia Dortmund defender Manuel Akanji\u2019s arrival completed a busy summer at the Etihad Stadium with a contented Pep Guardiola saying Manuel Akanji perfectly suits Manchester City\u2019s needs after the centre-back arrived on deadline day to help solve their defensive injury issues.<\/p>\n
The Etihad has been a hive of activity this summer with Raheem Sterling, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus among the departures and Erling Haaland, together with Julian Alvarez, leading the new arrivals.<\/p>\n
Newbies Kalvin Phillips, Stefan Ortega and Sergio Gomez also joined before City made a final deadline-day swoop for Switzerland international Akanji, who joined from Dortmund for \u00a315million in a five-year deal.<\/p>\n
With Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake succumbing to injuries, Guardiola has welcomed the 27-year-old\u2019s acquisition, highlighting the need for central defensive reinforcements.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had four incredible central defenders before Manu but sometimes Ayme had tough injuries,\u201d the City boss said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s getting better but a month or month and a half still there (sidelined).<\/p>\n
\u201cNathan had in the last month some concerns about muscular problems, so we\u2019ve just had two central defenders with this incredibly busy schedule that we have ahead of us.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had an opportunity to bring one player, only a year left on his contract in Dortmund, with a lot of experience in Germany and the national team with Switzerland.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe suits perfectly what we need. He\u2019s fast and really good in the build-up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe knew it, we felt it, when we played against Dortmund two or three seasons ago and, yeah, very pleased he\u2019s here and good competition for central defenders.\u201d<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a possibility Ake could be in line for a return to action in Saturday evening\u2019s trip to Aston Villa, with Guardiola saying he \u201ctrained really well\u201d on Thursday after injury, alongsede ex-Villa star Jack Grealish.<\/p>\n
Phillips has yet to return and City centre-back Laporte is unlikely to be back from a knee injury until October.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said one month ago it would be end of September, October,\u201d Guardiola said of the prognosis. \u201cWe\u2019re in early September.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he will be ready maybe after the international break, he\u2019ll start to be ready. We will not force it. With the knee, it was a tough injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cI cannot forget being in that position and the problems playing West Ham away and the final game against Aston Villa, we didn\u2019t have another alternative because Ruben (Dias) was injured, Nathan was injured.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the other reason why we decided to go for Manu Akanji but we\u2019ll be fine.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut after surgery it\u2019s time, so end of September, beginning of October. It was a bone (issue) but I\u2019m not a doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Akanji could be involved at Villa on Saturday, while all eyes will understandably be riveted on former Dortmund team-mate Erling Haaland following hat-tricks in City\u2019s last two matches.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s 22 years old, so he recovers well, quick,\u201d Guardiola said of the striker\u2019s availability. \u201cWhen you are 32 it\u2019s more difficult but at 22 it\u2019s not a problem.<\/p>\n
\u201cI admire all those who can anticipate what can happen in the future \u2013 in the next 10 months, 12 months. I am not able to do it.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne month ago it was a disaster because of the Community Shield and now he\u2019s going to break absolutely everything (in the record books).<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, I\u2019m not able to anticipate what will happen, so that\u2019s why I am not a guy who works in this business (of punditry).<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know even what\u2019s going to happen tomorrow, so imagine what\u2019s going to happen in one, two or three years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are delighted with him because he settled good \u2013 not just Erling, all new players.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst and foremost because the staff, the backroom staff especially, is so important to how they help and settle in quick the new players.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"