Manuel Akanji insists that he is not concerned by ongoing developments at his former club Manchester City, claiming ‘I won my titles’ and that he is currently only focusing on the task at hand with Inter, who will take on Club Brugge in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Akanji comments on Man City and previews Club Brugge in the Champions League
Akanji spent four trophy-laden years in Manchester between 2022 and 2026, and reporters were keen to ask him for his thoughts on the ruling that has seen City found guilty of breaking 114 of the Premier League’s financial rules between 2009 and 2018 during a pre-match press conference ahead of Inter’s Champions League match against Club Brugge.
Akanji, who did not play for City during the years that were investigated by the independent commission, insists that he won his titles fair and square.
“I’m not very worried about what’s happening [with Man City], I’m focused on Inter. I won my titles and I know what we did on the pitch,” said Akanji when quizzed about the Man City scandal during his presser on Monday.
The Switzerland international had much more to say about his side’s upcoming Champions League test against Club Brugge, though.
“They’re really important,” he said when asked about Inter’s next two Champions League fixtures, “but let’s take them one at a time. Tomorrow’s game comes first and then we’ll focus on the rest. We lost our first game but we want to take a step forward now.
“The goal is to get into the top eight, then we’ll see what happens. There are lots of different elements compared to last year, but let’s start by doing well and winning tomorrow.
“We’re confident about the journey we’re capable of taking. Everyone’s seen that we’ve got a good squad with lots of alternative options. Even when the formation changes we have the players needed to do well. I’m very confident about what could happen this year.”
There will be a reunion with former Inter goalkeeper and Akanji’s international colleague Yann Sommer on Tuesday night: “I spoke to him two days ago, we’re friends,” Akanji said.
The 32-year-old is not hiding the fact that he wants to go as far as possible in the competition this season.
“We want to go a long way in the Champions League. I’m feeling good here, we want to repeat what we did in Italy last year and see what happens in Europe.”
And he is not overly concerned about the prospect of defeat against Club Brugge either: “Even if we were to lose, there will still be six more games. Obviously we want to win, the fans feel that the victory is obtainable and we’ll see what happens.”