Inter defender Manuel Akanji has stated he is not concerned by the ongoing developments at his former club, Manchester City, following their conviction for breaking financial rules. Akanji, who played for City between 2022 and 2026, affirmed his focus is entirely on Inter’s upcoming Champions League challenge against Club Brugge.
Akanji on Manchester City Ruling
Manchester City was found guilty of 114 breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations, which occurred between 2009 and 2018. Akanji, however, was not part of the squad during the period under investigation. Speaking ahead of Inter’s European fixture, the Switzerland international made it clear that the ruling does not affect his past achievements.
“I’m not very worried about what’s happening [with Man City], I’m focused on Inter. I won my titles and I know what we did on the pitch,” Akanji commented, reinforcing his belief in the legitimacy of the trophies he secured during his time in Manchester.
Inter’s Champions League Ambitions
With the Manchester City matter set aside, Akanji’s attention has fully shifted to Inter’s Champions League aspirations. The Italian side is set to face Club Brugge on Tuesday night, a crucial fixture as they aim to advance in the competition.
Akanji outlined a clear objective for Inter this season: “The goal is to get into the top eight, then we’ll see what happens.” He acknowledged the differences from the previous season but expressed confidence in the current squad’s capabilities. “Everyone’s seen that we’ve got a good squad with lots of alternative options. Even when the formation changes we have the players needed to do well. I’m very confident about what could happen this year.”
Despite an initial loss in their Champions League campaign, Akanji stressed the importance of taking each game as it comes. “We lost our first game but we want to take a step forward now,” he added, highlighting the team’s determination to secure a victory against Club Brugge.
Facing Club Brugge and a Familiar Face
The match against Club Brugge will also see Akanji reunite with a familiar face: former Inter goalkeeper and fellow Swiss international, Yann Sommer. Akanji confirmed their ongoing friendship, stating, “I spoke to him two days ago, we’re friends.”
Akanji remains optimistic about Inter’s potential to go far in the Champions League, regardless of the immediate outcome against Club Brugge. He noted that even a defeat would not be catastrophic, as there would still be six more games in the group stage. “Obviously we want to win, the fans feel that the victory is obtainable and we’ll see what happens,” he concluded, underlining the team’s desire for success in Europe.