MANUEL IN OVERDRIVE

Akanji hoping to end sorry season on a high note as he targets Wembley glory

- NEIL MCLEMAN

LIKE Manchester City, Manuel Akanji has suffered a painful season.

And despite this frustrating draw against relegated Southampton, the returning Swiss defender claimed the deposed champions are also on the road to recovery before this weekend's FA Cup final.

But Pep Guardiola (right) will need to stitch together a new attacking combination at Wembley to bring out the best in Erling Haaland - or make the huge call to leave the big man out.

Akanji said he was "really happy" to make his first start since having surgery on a torn adductor suffered in the February Champions League defeat to Real Madrid.

And the former Borussia Dortmund star said: "I've been playing with a lot of pain throughout the season. At one point it was too much for my body.

"It was when I did the MRI and the doctor was stunned and said I needed surgery, so I knew then it was too much.