Since taking over at Newcastle United, Eddie Howe has impressed Nathan Ake with his work.
The defender started from the start as Pep Guardiola’s side defeated Newcastle United 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
In the summer, Ake was heavily linked with a move to St James’ Park as his City career hung by a thread. Instead, the Magpies signed Sven Botman, a different Dutch center-half, before Ake saved his career at Eastlands with some impressive performances.
After Saturday’s clash, Ake praised Howe, with whom he worked for many years at Bournemouth, and spoke highly of their close relationship.
“You can see how [Newcastle] is growing,” Ake said. “They do business very well with the manager, and everything they do right now seems to fit. He always wants the right people — the same ones he wanted at Bournemouth.
“He was the best for me; we had a great relationship that we still have when we see each other. It’s encouraging to see him succeed. He was a fantastic manager, not only tactically, but also in terms of his expectations of his players.”
Guardiola recently declared Newcastle to be “title contenders” this season and has backed Howe’s side to disrupt the “Big Six” in the future. Ake goes on to say that he sees parallels between his current and former bosses.
“He’s like Pep in that he brings out the best in his players.” “The defender went on to say. “He’s done it with so many players at Bournemouth, who he brought up from League Two to the Premier League with him — he improved them, and you can see it now. I always assumed he’d be at a prestigious club.
“At the moment, Newcastle are a difficult team. It was difficult up there in the league game earlier this season (which ended 3-3), but it always is.
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