Latest news with #Akanji
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Man City star blasts Club World Cup and admits players don't want to be in it
The Manchester City defender has slammed the upcoming tournament in the USA, and says that he and his team-mates would rather not play in it after a long, gruelling season Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji has laid into this summer's Club World Cup and says that he and his team-mates would rather not take part in it. The controversial 32-team tournament kicks off in the USA next weekend, with City facing matches Morocco's Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia on June 18, the UAE's Al-Ain in Atlanta on June 23 and Serie A giants Juventus in Orlando on June 26 in the group stages. But after a gruelling season which saw City cede their grip on the Premier League title to Liverpool, crash out of the Champions League to Real Madrid and lose the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace, Swiss defender Akanji says he'd rather not bother with FIFA's revamped tournament. Speaking from Salt Lake City where Switzlerland will face Mexico in a friendly on Saturday, Akanji said: "I have been a strong critic of this competition for some time now. We players would love to have some holidays, and some time for our bodies to rest. "My City teammates are not exactly overjoyed about the tournament either. But it's now right in our faces, and there is nothing we can do about it. "If we take part, then of course we want to win it. But if we reach the final, then the time period for us to recover ahead of the new season will become even shorter." Akanji will remain the US after Saturday's match before linking up with his City team-mates, and he admits his side let themselves down this season in comparison with their own high standards. "Set against the expectations we have, this hasn't been a good season. We finished third in the Premier League, three points behind Arsenal, and qualified for the Champions League," continued Akanji. "But it is still our worst campaign for some time. However, Pep Guardiola still said he was proud of us for never giving up. The season could have finished far worse than it did."
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
‘Nothing we can do about it' – Man City star breaks ranks to SLAM Club World Cup and says team-mates want rest
Akanji has also assessed City's previous campaign MAN DOWN 'Nothing we can do about it' – Man City star breaks ranks to SLAM Club World Cup and says team-mates want rest Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MANUEL AKANJI has questioned Manchester City's wisdom in taking part in the Club World Cup - insisting it could wreck the team's fitness for next season. Pep Guardiola's men endured a first trophyless season since 2017 after finishing third in the Premier League and losing the FA Cup final. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Manuel Akanji has questioned Man City's participation in the Club World Cup Credit: Alamy 5 It follows a trophyless season at the club Credit: Getty However, their campaign could continue until mid-July if they complete a seven-game run to the Club World Cup final. Centre-back Akanji, already in the US on Switzerland duty, will remain Stateside for the Fifa tournament. The 29-year-old said: "I have been a strong critic of this competition for some time now. "We players would love to have some holidays, and some time for our bodies to rest. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL AZT TO CHANGE World Cup stadium looks unrecognisable with cranes on pitch & seats ripped up "My City teammates are not exactly overjoyed about the tournament either. "But it's now right in our faces, and there is nothing we can do about it. "If we take part, then of course we want to win it. "But if we reach the final, then the time period for us to recover ahead of the new season will become even shorter." JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS Akanji, City's 2022 buy from Borussia Dortmund, fears fitness woes might impact their ability to once again win trophies. He added: "Set against the expectations we have, this hasn't been a good season. 'I will quit' - Pep Guardiola gives Man City ultimatum over squad issue that is 'impossible for my soul' 5 5 "We finished third in the Premier League, three points behind Arsenal, and qualified for the Champions League. "But it is still our worst campaign for some time. "However, Pep Guardiola still said he was proud of us for never giving up. "The season could have finished far worse than it did." Meanwhile, the Citizens will start their Club World Cup campaign against Wydad AC from Morocco on June 18. They will then face the Saudi side Al Ain FC five days later and then the Italian giants Juventus on June 26
The Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
‘Nothing we can do about it' – Man City star breaks ranks to SLAM Club World Cup and says team-mates want rest
MANUEL AKANJI has questioned Manchester City's wisdom in taking part in the Club World Cup - insisting it could wreck the team's fitness for next season. Pep Guardiola 's men endured a first trophyless season since 2017 after finishing third in the Premier League and losing the FA Cup final. 3 3 However, their campaign could continue until mid-July if they complete a seven-game run to the Club World Cup final. Centre-back Akanji, already in the US on Switzerland duty, will remain Stateside for the Fifa tournament. The 29-year-old said: "I have been a strong critic of this competition for some time now. "We players would love to have some holidays, and some time for our bodies to rest. "My City teammates are not exactly overjoyed about the tournament either. "But it's now right in our faces, and there is nothing we can do about it. "If we take part, then of course we want to win it. "But if we reach the final, then the time period for us to recover ahead of the new season will become even shorter." Akanji, City's 2022 buy from Borussia Dortmund, fears fitness woes might impact their ability to once again win trophies. He added: "Set against the expectations we have, this hasn't been a good season. 'I will quit' - Pep Guardiola gives Man City ultimatum over squad issue that is 'impossible for my soul' "We finished third in the Premier League, three points behind Arsenal, and qualified for the Champions League. "But it is still our worst campaign for some time. "However, Pep Guardiola still said he was proud of us for never giving up. "The season could have finished far worse than it did." Meanwhile, the Citizens will start their Club World Cup campaign against Wydad AC from Morocco on June 18. They will then face the Saudi side Al Ain FC five days later and then the Italian giants Juventus on June 26 3
North Wales Chronicle
12-05-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Manuel Akanji focused on two wins needed to seal Champions League spot
City were held to a goalless draw at rock-bottom Southampton on Saturday, meaning they are still not guaranteed a top-five finish. Following next weekend's FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, City face a visit from Bournemouth and a trip to Fulham. They could well need to win both to make sure fellow Champions League hopefuls Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest cannot overhaul them. City could have made life far more comfortable for themselves had they beaten Saints, but they were unable to find a breakthrough at St Mary's despite a dominant performance. 'It's frustrating when you don't score a goal,' said Swiss centre-half Akanji. 'When you score it's frustrating for them because they tried everything and it didn't work. 'They have to open up and it gives us space – but when you don't score it's really frustrating. I feel like everything we could do – maybe we could have done things a bit better – but we tried. Thank you all for your fantastic support this afternoon. Safe journey back to Manchester 🩵 — Manchester City (@ManCity) May 10, 2025 'Obviously for the Champions League, if we won maybe we'd be in already but the good thing is it's in our own hands and if we win the last two games in the league we'll definitely be in.' Relegated Southampton's battling point meant they edged past Derby's record low tally of 11 in 2007/8. One of their star performers was teenage winger Tyler Dibling, who was back in the starting line-up having been relegated to the bench for the previous four matches by interim boss Simon Rusk. 'When I took over the job, one of my areas of expertise, if you like, is working with young, gifted footballers and having a deep understanding of the pressures and complexities that come with that,' said Rusk. 'I think he needed a bit of breathing space as a young man because he's gone through a lot this year and it's not easy at this level of football, particularly in a team that's having a difficult time over a long period. 'Sometimes with young players you've got to push and pull at the right time, you've got to have the right conversations at the right time, you've got to help them add meaning to good times and bad times. 'Hopefully he's found that little balance, and I thought his work rate to defend was outstanding.'
South Wales Guardian
11-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Manuel Akanji focused on two wins needed to seal Champions League spot
City were held to a goalless draw at rock-bottom Southampton on Saturday, meaning they are still not guaranteed a top-five finish. Following next weekend's FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, City face a visit from Bournemouth and a trip to Fulham. They could well need to win both to make sure fellow Champions League hopefuls Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest cannot overhaul them. City could have made life far more comfortable for themselves had they beaten Saints, but they were unable to find a breakthrough at St Mary's despite a dominant performance. 'It's frustrating when you don't score a goal,' said Swiss centre-half Akanji. 'When you score it's frustrating for them because they tried everything and it didn't work. 'They have to open up and it gives us space – but when you don't score it's really frustrating. I feel like everything we could do – maybe we could have done things a bit better – but we tried. Thank you all for your fantastic support this afternoon. Safe journey back to Manchester 🩵 — Manchester City (@ManCity) May 10, 2025 'Obviously for the Champions League, if we won maybe we'd be in already but the good thing is it's in our own hands and if we win the last two games in the league we'll definitely be in.' Relegated Southampton's battling point meant they edged past Derby's record low tally of 11 in 2007/8. One of their star performers was teenage winger Tyler Dibling, who was back in the starting line-up having been relegated to the bench for the previous four matches by interim boss Simon Rusk. 'When I took over the job, one of my areas of expertise, if you like, is working with young, gifted footballers and having a deep understanding of the pressures and complexities that come with that,' said Rusk. 'I think he needed a bit of breathing space as a young man because he's gone through a lot this year and it's not easy at this level of football, particularly in a team that's having a difficult time over a long period. 'Sometimes with young players you've got to push and pull at the right time, you've got to have the right conversations at the right time, you've got to help them add meaning to good times and bad times. 'Hopefully he's found that little balance, and I thought his work rate to defend was outstanding.'
