The defender is the latest guest to appear on the official Man City Podcast, reflecting on his life and career to date with hosts Rob Pollard and Paul Dickov.
A Dutch international, Ake has made over 200 Premier League appearances for City, Bournemouth and Chelsea, as well as featuring in both the European Championships and World Cup for his nation.
During that time, he’s come up against some of the best attackers in world football, but it’s former City team-mate and the Club’s record goalscorer Aguero who stands out in his eyes.
“It depends what position. If I’m centre-back, probably players like when I was at Bournemouth,” Ake explains.
“Sergio Aguero when I played against him, it was difficult just because he
always played well.
“I mean, he played well against most teams. He certainly did against Bournemouth.
“He can play into feet but he can also play in behind. He’s good with the ball. He’s strong, he’s fast and his finishing is unbelievable.
“So he had everything, when you try and knock him off it he stays up. He’s so strong, and you can’t give him a yard in the box, it’s difficult.”
Ake has become a key figure for City over his three full seasons at the Club, but he endured a difficult start to life at the Etihad Stadium.
The defender was limited to just 13 appearances in all competitions after suffering a series of injuries.
It’s a period where he admits he lost some confidence, but the Dutch international reveals that manager Pep Guardiola was always convinced he would find his best form once again.
He adds: “I think as I’ve said a few times before, the first year was difficult.
“You know when you get injuries, when the confidence goes down a little bit and then you have to play and you start to over show yourself, you start to do things you don’t normally. You try too hard.
“That’s the wrong way to play, especially as defenders, because you’re trying to do things you don’t have to do, and straightway it causes goals.
“It was hard, and naturally with that the confidence comes down a little bit, but I think the manager helped me in that.
“Even at the end of the first season he came to me and he just said, keep going because this season, maybe it didn’t work out, but next season you’re going to be very important because you can play different positions, keep that faith and keep going.
“That made me think ‘okay, he still believes in me’, even though the first season was bad.”
