Jack Grealish shared a wordless reaction after Nathan Ake put in a performance for the ages for the Netherlands in their 2-1 win against Poland.
Ahead of the contest, Brian Brobbey revealed that the Manchester City centre-back is a “fabulous” character to have in the Dutch dressing room.
Ake seems to feel as comfortable at international level as he does for City — as indicated by his assured display against Poland.
The £41 million man’s timely interception is what led to Cody Gakpo’s opener while his incisive pass set up Wout Weghorst’s winner —as he showcased twice that when tasked with contributing offensively, he certainly can.
Jack Grealish gives brief verdict on how Nathan Ake played against Poland
As per Squawka Live, Ake created four chances — more than any player on the pitch while also winning 100% of his duels.
The former AFC Bournemouth colossus’ natural position remains at centre-back, despite his growth as a left-back at the Etihad Stadium in recent years.
Despite that being the case, Ake was flawless in every regard for the Netherlands against Poland, as Grealish commented on his post-match Instagram post with a “top” emoji.
Nathan Ake may have learned some things from Josko Gvardiol
The comment made by Grealish was brief but it correctly summed up how Ake performed for the Netherlands against Poland.
Perhaps one reason behind the 29-year-old looking as impactful as he did going forward on Sunday might be due to the time he has spent training and playing alongside Josko Gvardiol.
Being a dangerous presence in the final third seems to come naturally to Gvardiol, unlike most centre-backs.
Ake would perhaps have picked up how the Croatian international manages to make himself a threat as a makeshift left-back.
Whether it is due to Gvardiol’s presence or his own progression in the position, the Dutchman deserves massive credit for elevating his game to such a degree.