Pundit shares Manuel Akanji team news ‘worry’ amid ‘massive’ Man City development – pundit
Noel Whelan has insisted Pep Guardiola will not be “worried” about starting Manuel Akanji at right-back when Man City face Liverpool on Sunday (16 October).
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, admitted the full-back berths are “massively important” to Guardiola’s set-up but hailed the 27-year-old’s performance in the role last week against Southampton.
Akanji started in the unfamiliar role during the 4-0 win over the Saints (8 October), notching four tackles, winning all four ground duels, and misplacing just eight of his 79 attempted passes (as per Sofascore).
The Switzerland international was forced to play right-back in the absence of Kyle Walker, who could miss the World Cup after undergoing groin surgery.
Akanji signed for a reported fee of £15million during the summer window.
Man City have a 13-point buffer to Liverpool ahead of Sunday’s game after three seasons of close-fought title battles.
Whelan insisted he “expects” Akanji to start again in the right-back role.
He told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “All I’ll say is if Pep Guardiola trusts him in that role, then I trust him.
“I don’t think he’d be putting him in that position if he was worried about him going outside his comfort zone.
“It’s a position which is massively important to City and the way they attack, but Pep has obviously seen enough on the training ground to know that Akanji is capable.
“He’s a very talented young man who can play all across that backline.
“I expect him to stay there. Guardiola trusts him, hopefully everyone else trusts him. He did a good job against Southampton.
“I can’t see too many changes in that position with the likes of Walker out.”
In other news, pundit lambasts chiefs as BT’s Riyad Mahrez footage analysed at Man City.