Reijnders Shines on Debut as Ake Predicts Bright Future

On a hot, humid night in Philadelphia, Tijjani Reijnders delivered a stunning first performance in Manchester City colours — a debut that left teammate Nathan Ake full of optimism about what the Dutch midfielder will bring to Pep Guardiola’s squad in the months ahead.

Just weeks after completing his move from AC Milan, Reijnders made his competitive City debut in the FIFA Club World Cup Group G opener against Wydad AC. In City’s commanding 2-0 win, the 26-year-old immediately showcased his remarkable blend of defensive strength and attacking creativity, effortlessly controlling the game from midfield.

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Reflecting on his teammate’s debut, Ake was full of praise: “I think he can be hugely important for us. You could see it from his first training session — he settled in straight away, and his quality is clear for everyone to see.”

Ake added, “Against Wydad, he handled the tough conditions brilliantly. He kept the ball moving, was solid defensively, and showed real threat going forward. He’s so versatile — whether getting into the box or dictating play, there’s a lot more to come from him.”

Reijnders isn’t the only new talent impressing in training. Ake also highlighted the impact of Rayan Cherki, saying: “You can see the quality he brings too — it’s exciting to think about how much stronger this squad can become.”

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Meanwhile, Ake himself marked a personal milestone by completing a full 90 minutes after a difficult season marred by injury setbacks. The defender admitted that the long months of recovery were mentally and physically exhausting.

“Mentally, it’s tough — you work so hard to get back, only to get injured again. But thankfully, that’s behind me now,” Ake reflected. “Physically I’m feeling good again, and I’m just happy to be back doing what I love.”

With Reijnders making an immediate impact and Ake returning to full fitness, Manchester City’s ambitions for Club World Cup glory and beyond seem brighter than ever.