After a difficult start to life with the Cherries for last season’s Player of the Year at Watford, Nathan Ake has finally begun to settle into his role in Eddie Howe’s side.
Despite struggling for game time in the early stages of the season Ake has featured prominently in recent weeks, scoring a dramatic winner against Liverpool and the opener against Southampton.
The 21-year-old defender spoke with great warmth about Bournemouth to Sky Sports:
Everything is local [at Bournemouth] if you go into town, people, old and young, come up to you and say well done.
Everyone seems to be involved at the club, like a family. Everyone is really nice, and everyone does things with each other, and it makes the group really tight.
I just try to focus. You can overdo things, and here you get all the help you need.
On his future, Ake added:
I am happy here. The loan deal is until the end of the season. I don’t look too far ahead. At the end of the season, we will see.
It is too early to say [if he can make it at Chelsea]. There are still things to improve. Hopefully at the end of the season we will know more.
Breaking into Chelsea’s team currently appears to be a daunting task for any player, let alone a youngster on loan.
However, the versatile young defender is capable of playing at left back, centre back or even as a defensive midfielder, making him an ideal squad player for Conte’s 3-4-3.
Moreover, with a successful Premier League season at Watford already under his belt, should he keep up his form with Bournemouth the Dutchman will soon have a wealth of Premier League experience for one so young.
Turning to Bournemouth’s form, Ake concluded:
The inconsistencies is something we need to change. If you play a good game against Liverpool and then the week after you lose against different teams – we need to address that.
It is difficult to work out why it is happening, but it is something we need to look at. The goals against [that Bournemouth have conceded] we need to improve too.
