Manuel Akanji revelling in role as Manchester City’s ‘Mr Versatile’

Manuel Akanji says he is happy to be Manchester City’s ‘Mr Versatile’ and will play any position manager Pep Guardiola asks him to.

The fixtures are coming thick and fast as City aim for a repeat of last season’s treble. They are currently in a three-way battle with Liverpool and Arsenal to retain their Premier League crown, face Chelsea for a place in the FA Cup final and are all-square with Real Madrid as they go head-to-head in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final next week.

City are well used to playing every three to four days at the business end of the season and have used the 28-year-old Swiss international Akanji in central defence, left and right-back, and even as a holding midfielder.

But you won’t hear any complaints from the player.

“Now I don’t have a real position,” he told the official Manchester City podcast. “When I came here I was a centre-back who had played full-back a couple of times. I knew I could do it but it wasn’t my best position.

“Here it is so different. The way you play full-back is different. Sometimes you are a third centre-back or in some games you are more in midfield so a lot of things come with this position, it’s never the same. I’m just trying to learn the roles.

“I enjoy the adaptability. I have never played three games in a row in the same position. Maximum two. Normally I change every game. In the beginning it was a little bit difficult because you need confidence about what you are doing, especially in midfield where I had never played before.

“Suddenly opponents are behind your back when normally they are in front of you. So the more I played the more confident I got and now it doesn’t really matter where I play. I’m happy being on the pitch and helping the team.

“Everyone is trying to be in the starting XI. There’s lots of competition. I’m no different.”

City signed Akanji from Borussia Dortmund in 2022 for around £15 million just before the summer transfer window closed.

He had played more than 100 times for the Bundesliga club and had in excess of 50 caps for his country, yet wasn’t considered a high-profile signing, arriving as he did in the wake of Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, a teammate of Akanji’s at Dortmund.

Akanji went on to play more minutes in the 2022/23 Premier League campaign than any other City defender and became a staple in all the big European games including the Champions League final win over Inter Milan in Istanbul last June.

Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji tracks Real Madrid forward Rodrygo during Tuesday’s 3-3 Champions League quarter-final first leg. Getty

Whilst others drew the attention and individual awards, Akanji continued to catch the eye of his coach.

Guardiola is usually reluctant to talk about individuals at length and much prefers to espouse the virtues of the collective.

However, the City boss was happy to extol the merits of a player he has come to rely on for the big occasion.

“What a signing, we are so lucky to have him,” Guardiola said. “He is a lovely guy, open minded, well educated and so intelligent. He listens and learns very quickly and is so adaptable he can play in several positions.

“He can play full-back, central defender and now holding midfielder and when arriving in the final third he has the ability to make the pass.”

That final point was never more evident than in the 2023 Champions League final in Turkey with Akanji heavily involved in the build up for Rodri’s winning goal.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is a big fan of Manuel Akanji and his ability to play several positions. PA

Fast forward to the present day and Guardiola knows Akanji’s versatility could again play a vital role if they are to repeat last season’s treble success.

Akanji, who supplemented his burgeoning medal collection by helping City win the Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup in 2023, is ready for battle on all three fronts.

“We are in a good spot. We all have difficult games ahead but we want to play these games and fight for more titles,” he added.

“The main focus is just one game at a time. There are some big weeks ahead. We get used to handling the schedule. You cannot think ahead or your head will not be in the present.

“It really is just one game at a time. Then you have to show your best performance so you are picked for the next game. You don’t want to let your teammates down. It is the only mindset you can have.

“Winning the treble last season could be an advantage or a disadvantage at the end of this season’s competitions. Other teams might have hunger but we have the experience and know how to do it.

“When I joined this club I hadn’t won a lot of trophies but I came here and always had the feeling we would win the league. We have a winning mentality and now the new players here want a taste of it so we are trying to make this another historical season.”

Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Champions League. Reuters

Manchester City’s Norwegian striker #9 Erling Haaland poses with the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final. AFP

Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola poses for a picture with the European Cup trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City’s German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan celebrates with the fans after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

A supporter of Inter Milan reacts after InterMilan’s defeat against Manchester City at the Piazza Castello (Castello’s square) fanzone in Milan after the UEFA Champions League final. AFP

Manchester City’s Norwegian striker #9 Erling Haaland, wrapped in the Norwegian flag, celebrates with the fans after winning the UEFA Champions League. AFP

Manchester City’s English midfielder #10 Jack Grealish celebrates with his girlfriend and relatives after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City. AFP

Manchester City’s German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan poses with the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City’s players pose with the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City’s Norwegian striker #9 Erling Haaland wavers t the fans as he celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City. AFP

Manchester City’s German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan kisses the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City’s German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan holds aloft the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder #16 Rodri bites the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with the winners’ medal after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City’s German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan (C) lifts the European Cup trophy as they celebrate on the podium after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City’s Brazilian goalkeeper #31 Ederson kisses the European Cup trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City. AFP

UEFA President President Aleksander Ceferin (R) presents the European Cup trophy to Manchester City’s German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan after their win in the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City’s German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan holds aloft the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (L) celebrates with Manchester City’s Emirati chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak after the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City’s Portuguese defender #3 Ruben Dias (C) lifts the European Cup trophy as they celebrate on the podium after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

TOPSHOT – Manchester City’s English midfielder #4 Kalvin Phillips celebrates at the final whistle after they won the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, on June 10, 2023. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Inter Milan’s Argentinian forward #10 Lautaro Martinez reacts to their defeat in the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

TOPSHOT – Manchester City’s English midfielder #47 Phil Foden (L) and Manchester City’s English defender #2 Kyle Walker celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, on June 10, 2023. Manchester City won the match 1-0. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Manchester City players celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City’s English defender #2 Kyle Walker celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Ferran Soriano, Manager of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, and Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of Manchester City, celebrates with the UEFA Champions League trophy. Getty Images

Manchester City’s English defender #5 John Stones celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates with the UEFA Champions League trophy after the team’s victory during the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 final match between FC Internazionale and Manchester City FC at Atatuerk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. Getty Images

Sergio Gomez of Manchester City celebrates with the UEFA Champions League trophy after the team’s victory in the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 final match between FC Internazionale and Manchester City FC at Atatuerk Olympic Stadium. Getty Images

Manchester City player Kevin de Bruyne, his wife Michele de Bruyne and two of their children pose with the trophy after the team won the UEFA Champions League Final soccer match between Manchester City and Inter Milan. EPA

Ilkay Guendogan of Manchester City lifts the UEFA Champions League trophy after the team’s victory during the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 final match between FC Internazionale and Manchester City FC at Atatuerk Olympic Stadium. Getty Images

Manchester City’s head coach Pep Guardiola kisses the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Manchester City and Inter Milan. AP

Aymeric Laporte of Manchester City celebrates with the UEFA Champions League trophy. Getty Images

Manchester City’s English defender #2 Kyle Walker slides as he celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City’s Emirati chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak poses with the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final. AFP

Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne is greeted by fans as he leaves the pitch after the Champions League final soccer match where Manchester City beat Inter Milan 1-0 at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. AP

Manchester City players and staff celebrate with the Champions League trophy after their win over Inter Milan in the final on Saturday. Getty

Rodri of Manchester City celebrates after scoring what turned out to be the match-winning goal in the Champions League final against Inter Milan at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on Saturday, June 10, 2023. Getty

Inter Milan players look dejected after defeat in the Champions League final. Getty

Manchester City’s Rodri scores the opening goal past Inter Milan’s Andre Onana in Istanbul. Reuters

Rodri after scoring the opening goal for Manchester City. Getty

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland speaks to manager Pep Guardiola in Istanbul. Getty

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland watches as Inter Milan’s Francesco Acerbi heads the ball clear. AFP

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne receives treatment during the match. AFP

Kevin De Bruyne leaves the pitch after being substituted due to injury. AFP

Kevin De Bruyne is consoled by Erling Haaland. Getty

Jack Grealish of Manchester City and Denzel Dumfries of Inter fight for the ball. EPA

Inter Milan’s Federico Dimarco vies for the ball with Manchester City’s Rodri. AP

City’s run-in promises a variety of opponents which mean a host of different skill sets are required. Akanji will take them all in his stride but admits some are more difficult than others.

“As a defender the toughest players to face are those who are good at dribbling allied with a good football IQ because you have to cover those players all over the pitch. If you lose sight of them they might do something good,” he said.

“The Premier League is definitely more physical than the Bundesliga and there are more individuals who are better. In the Bundesliga there are a lot of good teams but I feel here it doesn’t matter if you play against the third in the table or the 16th – all of them have good individual players and you can really feel it as a defender. You can’t switch off for a second. That’s the difference.

“Here we are constantly playing in the latter stages of the Champions League against the best teams in Europe too and that’s where you can learn the most.

“City was a very easy changing room to come into and to get adapted. It helped that I played right away from the beginning and this cannot happen if the changing room is not good. I feel really comfortable here.

“When you play for Manchester City you are normally in possession a lot. I like playing further forward, the offensive side of the game. Pep demands a lot from defenders in the build up play. If I see openings and passes I try to take them.”