Manuel Akanji did something against Brentford that no other player has since the 2015/2016 season

Manuel Akanji did something against Brentford that no other player has since the 2015/2016 season

As Manchester City beat Brentford 1-0 on Tuesday night, Manuel Akanji recorded an incredible statistic during the game.

 

 

Ahead of the contest, Pep Guardiola claimed that the 28-year-old must get back to form.

 

But against Thomas Frank’s side, Manuel Akanji excelled as a makeshift left-back.

 

The Swiss international was tremendous in every possible department.

 

Akanji’s carrying of the ball allowed City to progress up the pitch seamlessly, the way he broke the lines allowed the hosts to ramp up the pressure on the visitors at the Etihad Stadium while he dominated most of his duels.

 

The incredible Manuel Akanji statistic after his left-back masterclass for Manchester City against Brentford

It would be fair to claim that the former Borussia Dortmund defender put in his finest performance of the season.

 

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Pep Guardiola’s experiment was one that worked wonders.

 

In addition, Nathan Ake was allowed to have a rare breather this season.

 

 

According to Sofascore on X, Manchester City centre-back Manuel Akanji completed 63 out of his 63 passes in the final third against Brentford, a feat no other player has accomplished since the 2015/2016 season.

 

Manchester City v Brentford FC – Premier League

Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport/Getty Images

While statistics can be deceptive at times, in this instance, it exemplifies just how flawless Akanji’s display was against the Bees.

 

Manuel Akanji should be utilised in the same manner but at right-back

Considering how splendid Manuel Akanji looked as a left-back against Brentford, it may be wise for Manchester City to deploy him in the same manner as a right-back. After all, Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol are more natural fits at left-back than the DFB-Pokal winner.

 

 

Against the West London side, Akanji was given the freedom to bomb forward and invert into central zones but in an advanced position.

 

Previously, whenever Manuel Akanji has played as a full-back, he has merely operated as one of the three centre-backs for City in possession.

 

But if the treble-winner is utilised in this way at right-back or potentially even tasked to hold the width as Kyle Walker does, perhaps the Sky Blues could unlock a brand-new weapon until the end of the season.