Manchester City defender Nathan Aké has called on his team-mates to remain positive and keep pushing forward after a frustrating 0-0 draw away to Sunderland dented their momentum in the Premier League title race.
The former champions were held by a resilient Sunderland side in a tense contest, dropping two valuable points at a stage of the season where margins are increasingly fine. But the Dutch international of Ivorian descent, Nathan Aké, insisted there is still plenty to fight for.
“It was a tough battle. We knew coming here it was always going to be tough,” Aké told City Studios after the final whistle.
“They have a great record at home. Obviously, it’s disappointing not to get the three points.”
City dominated spells of possession but struggled to break down a disciplined Sunderland defence, backed by a vocal home crowd. Despite the setback, Aké pointed to the spirit and work rate within Pep Guardiola’s squad as a positive sign.
“In the end, it’s disappointing not to get the three points, but we keep going,” he said. “We have to make sure we keep going. It was good to see everyone fighting for every ball.”
The defender also highlighted the intensity of the Premier League run-in, warning that no fixture can be taken lightly.
“You can see with the fans, the way every team battles and plays, every game is going to be tough,” he added. “We just have to keep going, stay positive and go for the next one.”
For Aké, whose journey reflects both European and African heritage, resilience and persistence have long been part of his story. That same mindset, he believes, will be crucial as City look to recover quickly and reassert themselves in the title race in the weeks ahead.
