{"id":293103,"date":"2023-10-26T11:25:35","date_gmt":"2023-10-26T11:25:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=293103"},"modified":"2023-10-26T11:25:35","modified_gmt":"2023-10-26T11:25:35","slug":"manuel-akanji-manchester-city-are-ready-to-win-the-derby-at-old-trafford","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/soccer\/manuel-akanji-manchester-city-are-ready-to-win-the-derby-at-old-trafford\/","title":{"rendered":"Manuel Akanji: Manchester City are ready to win the derby at Old Trafford"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
Manuel Akanji is confident his Manchester City team-mates will deliver in this weekend\u2019s derby at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n
The Switzerland defender, who scored as City beat Young Boys 3-1 in his home country on Wednesday, will miss Sunday\u2019s Premier League clash against Manchester United through suspension.<\/p>\n
Akanji picked up a one-match domestic ban after being sent off in the closing stages of last weekend\u2019s victory over Brighton but he is backing those who do feature to cut down their rivals.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is going to be a big game, it is going to be tough, but I trust in our guys,\u201d said the 28-year-old, who started in City\u2019s 2-1 FA Cup final triumph over United in June.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we are ready for this game and we are going to get the three points on an away game again.\u201d<\/p>\n
City go into the derby with confidence now restored after their blip prior to the recent international break.<\/p>\n
After hanging on to see off Brighton, the holders took another step towards the Champions League knockout stages as they beat Young Boys on their artificial pitch at the Wankdorf Stadium.<\/p>\n
Akanji put them ahead early in the second half when he reacted quickly to turn in after a Ruben Dias header had been touched onto the bar.<\/p>\n
Meschack Elia responded with a sublime lobbed equaliser moments later but Erling Haaland eased nerves from the penalty spot before making victory certain with a fine finish four minutes from time.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes it was special,\u201d said Akanji of his goal on his Swiss return. \u201cI think we had already had a lot of chances in the first half and if we\u2019d used them we would have scored three or four goals.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe tried to go again in the second half. Obviously Young Boys had their chances too but we went up 1-0 and shortly afterwards we conceded.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think (the equaliser) was a little bit too easy but then we reacted to that and scored two goals, so I am really happy we got the three points.\u201d<\/p>\n
City now have nine points after victories over Red Star Belgrade, RB Leipzig and Young Boys in their opening three Group G matches.<\/p>\n
They could secure their place in the last 16 for an 11th successive season with a follow-up win over the Swiss side at the Etihad Stadium in a fortnight.<\/p>\n
Akanji said: \u201cThat was really good from us, two away wins, two tough ones. I think if we can manage to win the next game then it looks really good.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t say we are going to be through because you never know what happens, but I think with 12 points we\u2019re looking really good for the next round.\u201d<\/p>\n
Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sign up to Miguel Delaney\u2019s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel\u2019s Delaney\u2019s free weekly newsletter Thanks […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":293102,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n