HEAD START

Ake insists tournament is like a new season for City

- John Cross

NATHAN AKE claims Manchester City are already treating the Club World Cup as part of a new season because they cannot wait to leave the previous one behind.

City finished the campaign trophyless after surrendering their Premier League title, losing the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace and crashing out of the Champions League before the last 16.

Ake was one of a raft of players to suffer “frustration” with injury but he insists City are back with a new mindset in the United States.

The Dutch defender said: “You come here to reach the final of the tournament, that’s the main objective of the team.

“Last season was tough. I always tried to push, tried to come back as quickly as possible.

“Then I got injured again and mentally it can be tough, it’s never easy, but luckily that’s done now and hopefully I can stay fit and keep performing.

“But the manager has said that this is part of the new season. We want to perform, we have new players, new staff and we are working hard.”