Nathan Ake Urges Manchester City to Show Character After shocking Feyenoord Comeback

Manchester City defender Nathan Ake has called on his teammates to “show character” after a shocking 3-3 draw with Feyenoord in the Champions League. City seemed set for a comfortable win at the Etihad Stadium, leading 3-0 with just over 15 minutes to go. However, Feyenoord launched a stunning comeback, scoring three quick goals through Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Gimenez, and David Hancko, leaving City stunned.

City’s goals came from Erling Haaland, who netted twice, including a penalty, and Ilkay Gundogan. The team looked on track to finally end their winless run, but the late collapse meant they are now six games without a victory in all competitions.

After the game, Ake stressed the importance of staying mentally strong and sticking together as a team. Speaking to Amazon Prime, Ake admitted that the team might be struggling mentally. “Maybe it is,” he said when asked about the issue. “It’s difficult to say. We haven’t been in this situation often, but this is when we need to show character.”

Ake emphasized that now is the time for the team to stay united, especially as critics start doubting them. “When everything seems to go against us, and everyone is writing us off, we have to stay strong mentally, believe in ourselves, and stick together,” he added. “Every season, there’s a moment when people doubt us. We have to make sure we get through it as a team.”

The draw means Manchester City still have work to do to secure a place in the Champions League’s last 16. They currently sit 15th in the group standings, just two points outside the top eight. Upcoming matches against Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain will be crucial if they want to keep their hopes alive. Their final group-stage game will be against Club Brugge on January 29.

Despite the disappointing result, the draw ended a run of five straight defeats for City. The focus now shifts to a massive Premier League clash with league leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

Reflecting on the match, Ake expressed his frustration. “When you’re three goals up, it feels like a defeat when you end up drawing,” he said. “It’s tough to take, but the only thing we can do is move forward and prepare for the next game. Liverpool is a big challenge, and we have to be ready.”

Ake also acknowledged that City needed to handle the game better after going 3-0 up. “At 3-1, they started pushing more. We needed to respond earlier and keep the pressure on them,” he explained. “Instead, we kept playing at the back, which invited more pressure. When they scored the second, it became even harder to manage. We have to stay stronger mentally in those moments.”

As City prepare for the showdown with Liverpool, Ake’s message is clear: the team must dig deep, show resilience, and get back to winning ways.