Manuel Akanji has insisted his Manchester City defensive teammates must improve after dropping more points at home against Everton.
City were in control for large portions of their New Year's Eve clash, but Everton scored with their only shot on goal when Demarai Gray found the top corner with a stunning finish on the break. Rodri had given the ball away uncharacteristically and Everton punished City in style, with the Blues unable to respond and find a winner.
Akanji, who started the game in central defence, admitted there was frustration in the squad after two more points were dropped, and laid down a challenge to his teammates to ensure such results are not repeated.
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“It didn’t feel like the 90 minutes were frustrating – we played really well. We made one mistake, and we immediately concede a goal – I think it was their only shot on target," Akanji reflected.
"We tried to score a second one, but they defended good, and we missed some opportunities. In the end that’s football – you keep on trying for 90 minutes and we have to keep on going. It was frustrating after we conceded to 1-1. We tried to create more chances and I think we had enough of them to score a second goal. Unluckily we didn’t make it so in the end it’s a tight game and I think once you watch the 90 minutes it’s not enough for us.
"We had enough chances and we’ve got to keep the clean sheet in a game like this – we can’t give the opponent the opportunity to score, especially when we are up 1-0. It’s something we have to better in the next game. One point is not enough out of this 90 minutes.
"We tried to dominate the game - think we did it pretty well and had enough opportunities to score a goal. In the end we have to manage to keep the clean sheet and there’s going to be some tough games where the opponent is defending well, and we’ve got to do a better job to keep the clean sheet. I think we did really well, but we have to be more focused at that one time and better organised in defence.
"If we can do that, we might be better the next time – it’s something we have to improve.”
Akanji went on to emphasise his point, insisting that he and his defensive colleagues must do better to keep clean sheets in order to help their attacking teammates make the difference further forward.
He said: “It's mostly in every game. A lot of teams try to defend deep against us and when we score an early goal most of the time it makes it easier for us, but they kept their shape until the end. We tried to create opportunities but sometimes the chances go in and sometimes they don’t.
"Today was one of those kinds of days. I think we could have scored maybe three or four goals – we didn’t do it today but maybe we can do it in the next one and keep a clean sheet as well. We’ve got to do a better job to minimise the chances of the opponent.”
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