Manuel Akanji makes admission on difficult season - 'It was too much'

Manchester City failed to find the net against Southampton at St Mary's on Saturday as defender Manuel Akanji completed 90 minutes for the first time since February against the relegated side

Manuel Akanji has revealed he has played through the pain barrier this season after playing his first full game in over three months at Southampton. The Swiss defender admitted his frustration at the goalless draw at the Premier League’s bottom club after City had 26 efforts on goal.

But the weekend before the FA Cup final, Akanji said he was delighted to make his first start since undergoing surgery on his torn adductor suffered in the February Champions League defeat to Real Madrid.

“I’m happy to be back,” said Akanji. “First 90 minutes after my injury. I’m really happy that the manager gave me the trust again to start.

“I've been playing with a lot of pain throughout the season. At one point it was too much for my body. It was when I did the MRI and the doctor was stunned and said I needed surgery so I knew then it was too much.

“I feel really good, I felt really good on the pitch. The last 15-20 minutes were tough as it was my first 90 minutes back. I feel confident in my body. I wish it would have been with three points but hopefully we can get the trophy next weekend.”

Erling Haaland also returned after missing seven games with an ankle injury but City could not beat Saints keeper Aaron Ramsdale. The deposed champions missed out on the chance to draw level on points with second-placed Arsenal and could now have to win their final two Premier League games against Bournemouth and Fulham to seal a return to the Champions League.

“It was definitely a frustrating result, we wanted to get three points today and maybe confirm our place in the Champions League but it didn't want to go in,” said Akanji. “I think we tried over 90, 100 minutes, from the first minute, we tried everything. They had a lot of energy in the first half, in the second half we had more chances because they got tired. It wasn't to be.

"It was one of those days, it wasn't a lack of effort. You can definitely see that we tried putting in lots of crosses, we had corners and shots from distance. Shots in the 18 yards box that got blocked, good saves from the keeper. Maybe a better finish or better pass to finish the action?”

Asked if the game was a story of their season, Akanji claimed: “It's the story of football. Sometimes you're more lucky, sometimes not. Last week against Wolves and against Villa before the opponent had chances before we scored and didn't go in. After it went in for us.

"Two months ago it felt like everything was against us, sometimes you're not that lucky. It wasn't about luck, they defended well and maybe we should have finished one action better and it would go in. Defensively we were really good - they played a lot of long balls and we won almost all of them. Effort wise it was all we could do.”