Nathan Ake: "I realised this was a very important year for myself."
Nathan Ake spoke to theguardian about his successful loan spell with promoted side Watford and his future with Chelsea.
Ake opened up about a famous Whatsapp amongst Chelsea loanees. "Some of us went alone to clubs in other countries, so we chat in the group to see how everyone is getting on," Ake says. "We are quite close, which is nice. I think it helps us with our football as well."
"Before the season I thought it would be a good year if I managed to get 15 starts, with perhaps a few extra games as a sub," he says. "I have worked really hard and it has turned out really well."
Nathan Ake joined Chelsea in 2011, but he wanted to stay in the Netherlands with Feyenoord. But a visit to Chelsea's training ground in Cobham sealed the deal for him.
"I remember Didier Drogba coming over to say hello. He told us about the family atmosphere at the club and how everything worked. That was quite special, also because my dad is from Ivory Coast. After seeing the club from the inside, I realised its big extent."
During his early Chelsea career, Ake was rewarded with games by then coach Rafa Benitez. "I even got game time in some Europa League matches, some other Premier League matches and managed to make a start in an FA Cup match as well." However, the arrival of Jose Mourinho saw Ake face the hardest moment in his young career. He was dropped back to the under 21s and made to train with them. "That was quite a difficult moment to be honest," he says. "After winning the Europa League and the Young Player of the Year award, I was focused on continuing the process, so it came as a bit of a surprise."
"I asked the manager what I could improve, if there were things I could adapt in my game. But Mourinho said I was training well and performing well in the games I played but that I had to wait for my chance. And I could understand it, as there were so many big players at the club."
Watford boss Sánchez Flores saw something in Ake that Mourinho didn't and trusted him enough with game time with newly promoted Watford. "He is quieter than Mourinho, and talks with you about things after training sessions," Ake says about Flores. "He is good in tactically organising the team, like how we can compete against big teams for instance. I think our team responds well to his methods."
"I realised this was a very important year for myself. I don’t know yet where I will be next season. In principle I will report for pre-season at Chelsea but I don’t know their plans. Obviously they have a new manager [Antonio Conte] as well."
