Manuel Akanji Scout Report
Manuel Akanji has established himself as a reliable force for Manchester City in the 2023-2024 Premier League season. Entrusted with a variety of defensive roles, he has proven his versatility as a center back who can capably fill in at right back, left back, and even in a defensive midfield position.
Beginning with his strengths, Akanji particularly thrives in ball recovery and progressive carrying, figures that place him comfortably within the top quarter of center backs in the league. His knack for regaining possession and driving the ball forward is a testament to his well-rounded defensive skill set. His chance creation ability is another standout aspect of his game, with a statistic hovering way above the majority of his defensive counterparts. This, combined with a goal efficiency and goals per 90 ratio that are in the upper mid-range for his position, allude to a true attacking threat from the back.
Pass accuracy is another one of Akanji's standout qualities, finding his target on an astonishing 96% of attempts. His exquisite delivery tends to create quality chances, as evidenced by an exceptional xA per 90 rate, highlighting how influential he is in Manchester City's buildup play.
However, every scout report must also underline the weaknesses, and Akanji's primary struggles lie in his aerial ability and his dueling. His aerial duel win percentage is alarmingly low, falling in the bottom 10 percentile for his position. Additionally, his overall duel win percentage isn't particularly impressive, suggesting potential vulnerability in one-on-one situations.
Despite his low interception figures and ranking just above the bottom quartile in fouls committed, Akanji's ability to recover the ball demonstrates his excellent positioning and anticipation. His defensive presence is distributed reasonably across the pitch, but a focus in the midfield third suggests a proactive style, attempting to neutralize threats before they edge closer to his own penalty area.
Despite some glaring flaws, Manuel Akanji's player stats present a competent and adaptable defender with above-average attacking prowess. His style of play marries well with Manchester City's possession-dominant philosophy, cementing his key role within the side.