London — Pep Guardiola feels Manuel Akanji will be the “ideal” fit for Manchester City after acquiring the Switzerland defender on transfer deadline day from Borussia Dortmund.
City reacted to Guardiola’s worries about the fragile health of his center backs by signing Akanji to a five-year deal for £15 million (R299m).
Recent injuries to Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake emphasized the need for central defensive reinforcements, which the 27-year-old will supply.
“Prior to Manu, we had four excellent center defenders, but Ayme suffered from difficult injuries. Still sidelined for a month or a month and a half, he is on the mend “Friday, Guardiola told reporters:
“We only have two central defenders for this tremendously hectic schedule we have ahead of us, since Nathan has had worries about muscle issues in the last month.
“We had the possibility to sign a player with a year remaining on his Dortmund contract and extensive experience in Germany and with the Swiss national team.
“He is exactly what we need. He is quick and an excellent builder.
“We knew it, we felt it when we faced Dortmund two or three seasons ago, and we’re glad he’s here because he’s a strong center defensive competitor.”
Ake may be available for Saturday’s trip to Aston Villa, although Laporte is unlikely to recover from a knee injury until October.
“I said a month ago that it would be late September or early October. Possibly after the international break, I believe he will begin to be prepared “Guardiola stated.
“I will never forget being in that situation and the difficulties of playing West Ham away and the last game against Aston Villa, when we had no other option since Ruben Dias and Nathan were both injured.
“This is the additional reason we chose Manu Akanji, but we’ll be alright.
“However, after surgery it is time, so it will be late September or early October. It included a bone, but I’m not a doctor.”
Akanji hopes to play against Villa, but all eyes will be on his old Dortmund teammate Erling Haaland, who scored hat-tricks in City’s last two games.
After receiving criticism for squandering multiple opportunities in the Community Shield loss to Liverpool, the Norway forward has scored nine goals in his first five league outings.
“One month ago, it was a catastrophe because of the Community Shield, but now he’s going to shatter every record in the book,” Guardiola remarked of Haaland’s ability to silence his detractors.
“Therefore, I am unable to predict what will occur. Therefore, I am not a man who works in this industry (of punditry).
“I respect individuals who are able to predict what will occur in the following ten or twelve months. I am not able to accomplish it.”