Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 7:50 PM• Mart Oude Nijeweeme • Last update: 20:00

Due to the overcrowded schedule, Pep Guardiola had made a place for Nathan Aké in the starting eleven on Saturday afternoon in the match against Crystal Palace. For the Manchester City defender, who was ravaged by several injuries that season, it was only his second game of the calendar year. Aké completed the ninety minutes and with his performance played an important part in City’s clean sheet, which triumphed 0-2 and can secure the title on Sunday.

Should Manchester United lose to Liverpool on Sunday evening, the seventh league title will be a fact for the Guardiola’s team. The Spanish coach preferred Aké against Palace, who formed the defensive heart with Aymeric Laporte. “Defensively, he was incredibly focused and he defended as if his life depended on it,” said Guardiola at the press conference, praising the Dutchman’s game. “We need him to keep this rhythm and not run into unnecessary injuries towards the end of the season.”

Guardiola gave some of his starting players a rest against Palace with a view to the return in the semi-final of the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain, when the England superpower defends a 2-1 lead from the first game. For example, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gündogan were spared. In the end, Sergio Aguëro and Ferran Torres ended the game. “He was one of the reasons why I am so personally satisfied,” Guardiola referred to Aké’s performance. “I’m sure he will help us a lot at the end of this season.”

Aké only played once before this calendar year, in the home game against Leeds United (1-2 loss). His season total is eighth with Saturday’s game, in which he managed to score once. “I like nice guys and he’s one of the nicest,” said Guardiola. “But he struggled a lot with injuries this season. I am proud of the whole team, we have taken the victory in the second half. We have the championship in our own hands.” City’s lead over United is thirteen points. The team of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still has a game credit and will take on Liverpool on Sunday evening.