Swiss Defender Akanji Stays Mum on Future Plans
Swiss defender Manuel Akanji is staying tight-lipped about his future plans, just two weeks before the start of the European Championship. Relaxed and seemingly recovered from a long season with Manchester City, Akanji faced the media at the Swiss Euro camp in St. Gallen. The center-back is one of four national team players, alongside Granit Xhaka, Yann Sommer, and Kwadwo Duah, who kicked off their Euro preparations as champions.
„I was exhausted after the long season,“ Akanji shared. „But after a few days off, the motivation was back.“ Now, the Zurich native hopes to play against Austria, just like he did against Estonia. „I’m eager to get out on the field.“ He marked his 50th appearance of the season in Lucerne on Tuesday.
For Manchester City, the majority of the season was excellent. They only suffered two defeats this year, both of which were particularly painful in the Champions League against Real Madrid and in the Cup final against Manchester United.
Perhaps due to recent setbacks, Akanji is cautious when discussing Switzerland’s chances at the Euros. He’s intentionally keeping the team’s goals realistic. „I don’t want to talk about quarterfinals and then end up losing the first two games.“ He emphasized the importance of a strong start. „We’ll see which direction we’re heading after that.“
The team spirit in the Swiss national team seems to be strong. They enjoyed a team outing on Lake Constance on Wednesday evening. Akanji mentioned how nice it was to have conversations with people they don’t usually interact with. However, the Swiss team has yet to hit their stride. They were left waiting for the wind to pick up on seven sailboats.
As Akanji remains tight-lipped about his future plans, fans are left wondering what’s next for the talented defender. With his solid performances for both the national team and Manchester City, there could be potential opportunities awaiting him. Whether he stays with his current club or seeks new challenges remains to be seen. Only time will tell what the future holds for Manuel Akanji.