A Manchester City defender has revealed the pain he played through during the 24/25 season | OneFootball

One player who battled injuries throughout the 24/25 season for Manchester City was Nathan Ake. The versatile defender was restricted to 18 appearances in all competitions for Pep Guardiola’s side last season. In September of 2024, Ake suffered a serious hamstring injury while on international duty with the Netherlands. Ake returned from that injury but his season was effectively ended when he was sent for surgery on a troublesome foot stress fracture in March. All told, Nathan Ake couldn’t get a run at it during the 24/25 season.

Now, the Dutch international has revealed the toll and pain that he playedd through last season. Nathan Ake’s courage to play through the pain barrier should be commended. But it was for the best that he had to have surgery to finally get an opportunity to heal and rest last season.

Nathan Ake has revealed the extent of the pain that he played through last season.

In an interview with ESPN Netherlands, Nathan Ake has spoken of his frustration with how the 24/25 season unfolded for him. He also revealed that he came back too early from the hamstring injury he sustained last September. The versatile defender explained: “Personally it was a very disappointing and frustrating season. Many injuries, mentally very tough. I was hardly fully fit for a single match. After the first hamstring injury with the national team, I came back too quickly.”

Nathan Ake went on to explain that he played with a stress fracture in his foot once he returned from injury. He also explained that the injury crisis that Manchester City were dealing with during the season forced him to play. Ake explained: “I played for a few months with a stress fracture in my foot. They said it was an old injury, but I think it came back. I couldn’t walk during training sometimes. It was inevitable that the foot would break at some point.”

“But you push it because there was an emergency at Manchester City and then another injury comes along. In retrospect, maybe I should have taken more time.”

Manchester City will be hoping Nathan Ake is fit for the Club World Cup and the 25/26 season.

When fully fit, Nathan Ake is a key player for Manchester City. Throughout the 22/23 and 23/24 campaigns Ake played a key role in Manchester City’s success. The Dutch international is a player who quietly goes about his work. He is a solid presence in City’s defence and often other players get the credit ahead of Ake. But the importance of Nathan Ake when fully fit to Pep Guardiola’s side cannot be downplayed. His versatility is also a valuable asset to the Manchester City squad. The ability of Ake to play at centre-back and at left-back is vital to Pep Guardiola’s side.

The hope for Manchester City is that Nathan Ake is now over the injury issues that ruined his 24/25 season. Ake will likely have a key role to play at the FIFA Club World Cup for Manchester City. If he can get through the tournament unscathed, and play well, it could set him up for the 25/26 season.

Nathan Ake pushed himself past the limit last season in a bid to help his team. He paid a price for that as his body eventually broke down in March. After having surgery to solve the stress fracture issue in his foot the it is hoped that the injury issues that Ake went through last season are now behind him. If they are he figures to be an important player for Manchester City for next season. That should remain the case as long as his injury issues are behind him.