Manuel Akanji is poised to rise further up in the pecking order at Manchester City after an impressive debut display against Sevilla in the Champions League.
The Switzerland international joined the Premier League champions from Borussia Dortmund on deadline day in a move worth £15 million.
With fitness concerns piling up in central defence for Pep Guardiola and his staff, Akanji will provide additional cover in a backline that already boasts Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, John Stones and Nathan Ake.
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The 27-year-old missed City's most recent league outing following the birth of his second child as Manchester City were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Steven Gerrard's Aston Villa last weekend.
Guardiola brought Akanji straight into action following his arrival for City's opening Champions League group-stage game against Sevilla in Spain.
Commanding the defence in supreme fashion alongside Ruben Dias at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, Akanji slotted in seamlessly as Guardiola shuffled his pack ahead of their previously scheduled Premier League clash against Tottenham this weekend, which was postponed following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Friday afternoon.
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With Aymeric Laporte still recovering from surgery on his knee and concerns over John Stones' fitness ahead of the trip to Seville, Guardiola called upon Akanji and the Swiss centre-half did not disappoint on an encouraging debut in Manchester City colours.
Speaking in an interview with the Manchester Evening News, Akanji is backing himself to show his quality on the pitch regularly and challenge for a starting spot at the Etihad Stadium.
"I feel like it’s big news (back in Switzerland). I have not been there yet since the signing, but Manchester City is one of the biggest clubs in the world," the defender said, as quoted by Simon Bajkowski.
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"I also want to show I did not come here (to Manchester City) to be just a random player. I want to be on this team and play as much as possible.
"Some people might still have doubts about it and I need to prove to them I can do it, and that’s why I’m here."
With City fighting on four fronts again this season, Guardiola will have to rotate his backline in the coming months but the challenge remains for Akanji to kick on from Seville and climb up the pecking order.
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He added: "Some people might think I came here just as another defender to play some time. I don’t really know what everyone thinks as I don’t read all the newspapers but there are always some doubts on everyone."
Akanji, who played with Erling Haaland at Borussia Dortmund, is raring to go and knows there are question marks on every player when they take up a new challenge in a different league and fresh surroundings.
"Even Erling (Haaland) - when he came - there were questions over if he could do here the same. Of course, he’s proving them wrong," Akanji said.
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"I want to prove myself. I know I am capable of doing it, but I need to show it. That’s all that matters: what you do on the pitch and if you’re ready to cope with it - I think I am and I want to show it to myself and to the people that believed in me."
Topics: Manchester City, Premier League, Champions League, Sevilla, Tottenham Hotspur, Pep Guardiola, Borussia Dortmund, Football, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake
Vayam Lahoti