Manuel Akanji is not easily flustered. Most of the time, this is a good thing: like when he faced Karim Benzema and Vinícus Júnior in a Champions League semi-final, and came out on top. Earlier in his career though, his calm demeanour almost counted against him.
"When I was younger, they told me I wasn't focused enough,” says Akanji says on a characteristically drizzly day across Manchester City's Etihad Campus. “They thought I was dreaming on the pitch and thinking about something else, but I told them it’s just the way I play. I'm really calm on the pitch. It's my style.”
As the business end of 2023/24 season draws close, starting with a huge game against Arsenal, that natural composure is needed more than ever. Akanji's unflappability is now complemented by a heightened focus that's come with age and pairs neatly with Pep Guardiola, a manager who's redefined how a team performs when it comes to squeaky bum time. “We’re not happy if we finish second in the league or as runner-up in the Champions League,” says Akanji. “We want to be there, we want to fight for these titles, and he brings that mentality to us.”
As one of the most exciting Premier League title races in years picks up the pace, GQ talks to Akanji about the three-way tilt for the title, how he's become a mainstay in a time of rotation, and which teammates had him pinching himself the first time he walked into the changing room.
GQ: Pep Guardiola’s teams characteristically retain laser focus until the end of the season. As a player under him, what’s this like?
Manuel Akanji: It’s the hunger to win these titles. We’re not happy if we finish second in the league or as runner-up in the Champions League. We want to be there, we want to fight for these titles, and he brings that mentality to us. It's also that we have a lot of good players. Everyone's trying to be in the starting 11. It's healthy competition. When you're on the pitch, you give it your best, so you can play in the next game.
A five-trophy haul last season must have felt pretty good. When you won the first, did you look ahead at what might be?
When we won the Premier League, there were still two or three games to play. I think we were already in the FA Cup and Champions League finals, so we knew we were in a race for two more trophies. When we won [the league], there was a celebration, but we knew we still had finals ahead. Even after the FA Cup final, we were happy but still had the biggest game [to come]. It was a relief when we won the Champions League because there was so much pressure building throughout the whole season. We could finally celebrate.
Is winning a habit?
I want to have that feeling again at the end of the season: that you did everything you could and you won these titles. It might not go every season like this – I wish it would – but I think winning is kind of a habit.
How do you judge the season so far?
I think we're in a good position. We're one point behind Arsenal and Liverpool – we couldn't win [against Liverpool], but it was still a good point. We now have two big home games against Arsenal and [Aston] Villa. We're still in the race for three titles, so I think the season has been good – it's not great, but we're on a good path.
Liverpool put you under a lot of pressure, something Manchester City aren't particularly used to. How did you alter your style to deal with that?
We had to change a little. Liverpool's pressing was really good. They were aggressive and played well with the ball. It's good that we can adjust our game if an opponent plays the way Liverpool did. We still tried to play our game: we’re not a team that just defends. We probably could have done some things better, and we didn't get three points, but we still have 10 games to play in the league. There are thirty points to grab.
Does it ever boil over between players?
It happens sometimes, but that's normal. You need to have it. The most important thing is that you talk about it after, and the next day you can move on. That's what we have: we have a good changing room. We all get along really well. In the game against Liverpool, Kyle [Walker] and Rodri had an argument, but then shortly after, Rodri gave the thumbs up, they talked in the changing room, and then it was done. It didn’t affect the rest of the game. That's what you need.
You’ve talked about having a mental coach. How long have you had that relationship?
I’ve worked with him now for two or three years. I can call him whenever I need something, but mostly I talk to him before games for 10 minutes: about how the week was, if I'm going to play or not, what my goal is for the game, what's expected of me, maybe something about my opponents. Then he gives me some input as well, and that's about it. It's not a long phone call, but it's a routine that I have.
How common is that in football?
I know that other professionals do it as well. I don't know if everyone likes to talk about it, but for me, it's not a big thing. I don't mind talking about it. It's something that helps me, so why not share it?
Is there anything you use to unwind away from football?
I have my kids – it's enough! When I come home after games sometimes, or if I had a bad day at training, I come home and I see them, and it’s enough distraction. The younger one is one and a half and the other one turns four in a couple of months. Busy times.
Who's more difficult to look after: the kids, or Haaland on the training pitch?
[Pauses] My kids, definitely!
During your time at Borussia Dortmund, you were one of a few players under real scrutiny. How do you deal with that as a professional?
I'm better at it, but I never reacted to it, because that's what people want. I never gave them the chance to have my attention. If you're trying to talk bad to me, maybe something's not going well in your life. I'm not going to watch a tennis match and then text a player, You played like shit today. It's none of my business. Maybe he didn't have a good day or he just wasn't at his best, and that’s normal as a professional. Everyone has bad days at their job. You can have this mindset for yourself, but you don't always have to share your opinions with everyone else. So I just don’t react. I think it's the best way to handle it.
