Nathan Ake admitted that Manchester City is struggling this season to give their struggle.
Again, City blew a lead when Real Madrid scored twice in the last five minutes on Tuesday evening to take an advantage of one goal in the Play-Off's second stage of next week in the Santiago Bernabeu.
The side of Pep Guardiola also threw away against Feyenoord, PSG and Sporting Lisbon earlier in the competition phase of the competition this season and now have an almighty task that waits in Madrid.
'Giving it away (admitted twice in the last five minutes) is frustrating and difficult to take, especially since it has happened a few times this season. We have not learned from it yet, so we have to do that as soon as possible, “said Ake.
Asked why it continues to happen, Ake added: 'It's difficult. We try to find out why. They are small things and small details. Some games that you can get away with it, but in these games you don't get away with it because they (Real Madrid) are clearly a top team. The next one comes thick and fast, so we have to make sure that we are ready. '
And the 29-year-old admitted that it was there that the side of Carlo Ancelotti easily cut through the city, with Madrid with 20 attempts and eight on goal for 90 minutes.
'You will admit opportunities against these kinds of players. They have top players in advance, but of course we sometimes have to do better as defenders and as a team, “said Ake.
'Usually we did well to keep them out – Eddy with a few saves, a few tackles here and there. That's what we have to do again. In the end we won 2-1, but still didn't win, so that's the most important thing '
Ake also refused to believe that the massive Rodri Ballon d'Or banner had some impact for the match by city assistants, with Vinicius introducing a player of the match display for the current Champions League holders.
“I haven't seen the banner, I don't know what it was. To be honest, it has nothing to do with us as a team. We just concentrate at stake, “he said.
And the Dutchman insisted that the city still believes that they can turn things around in Madrid, although they only won there (in 2019-20 -20).
“Yes, of course (we believe),” said Ake. “There is one goal in it. In some phases we have shown what we can do – we have created some good opportunities, played good football. If we get that next week, we can hopefully go through it. '
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