Amid all the doom and gloom surrounding Chelsea, identifying positives is no easy task. Willian's splendid form has certainly been uplifting, but beyond this, the pickings are rather slim indeed.
To find further plus points, Blues fans need to look further afield – or more accurately, just north of London. It's there that they can take great pleasure in the form of Nathan Ake, the 20-year-old Dutchman who’s been brilliant for Watford in recent weeks.
With every passing game he's gaining vital experience and learning the nuances of the position in the best way possible - by playing week in, week out
Ake joined the Hornets in the summer on a season-long loan, arriving at the club in the knowledge that they couldn't guarantee him first-team football. After all, the newly promoted club had just bought Greece international Jose Holebas from Roma, and already had the dynamic Ikechi Anya in their ranks.
Despite not featuring for Quique Sanchez Flores's side until the sixth game of the season, Ake's patience and diligence in training paid off when he was handed his Premier League debut against Newcastle United in September. A 10-minute cameo was all he received, before another 15-minute stint against Crystal Palace.
But since then the Holland under-21 international hasn’t looked back, playing every minute of all five subsequent top-flight encounters. It hasn't always been smooth sailing in a somewhat unfamiliar left-back role, but with every passing game he's gaining vital experience and learning the nuances of the position in the best way possible – by playing week in, week out.
Tough tackler
Every week I’m learning new things – the manager allows me to make mistakes but also sees that I’m improving and getting better every time
“I’ve never played left-back constantly so I’m not used to getting forward,” Ake admitted recently. “If you play four or five games in a row your fitness gets better and you understand the game more and more every time. That is important for my development. Every week I’m learning new things – the manager allows me to make mistakes but also sees that I’m improving and getting better every time.”
Having already come up against the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri, Aaron Ramsey and Victor Moses, Ake has shown he’s capable of handling a variety of opponents with different attributes and skill sets. As a natural centre-back, Ake has benefited from many of the traits he developed when playing in the heart of the backline; above all, his strength, pace and aerial prowess have allowed him to get the better of many of his direct opponents. Much like Nacho Monreal at Arsenal, Ake benefits from his astute positional sense when he comes up against players who are quicker than him.
RECOMMENDED Analysed: How Monreal broke in from the outside to nail his Arsenal spot
Arguably the most impressive aspect of the former Feyenoord trainee’s game is his magnificent ability to tackle; the art has been proclaimed dead by many pundits, but Ake is reminding fans what an important quality it can be. What sets the youngster apart in this regard is his ability to time his challenges perfectly, which more often than not means he wins the ball cleanly. Combine this with his aggression and physical toughness, and it becomes clear that Ake is a major obstacle for any opponent to overcome.
Well-drilled unit
Every day he is asking how he can improve. I am very happy with Ake. He is improving every time. He has qualities
The Chelsea loanee is now an essential part of the Hornets' backline, and the cohesion between him and his fellow defenders is evident; all four members of Watford’s rearguard support, cover and communicate with one another, meaning they are always on the same page. As a consequence, Flores’s side have become extremely difficult to break down.
Their team-first approach is evident when Ake motors up the touchline to contribute to Watford’s attacks. Whenever he shoots upfield and leaves space behind him, Miguel Britos, the left-sided central defender, shifts across to provide cover. Crucially, if the Uruguayan’s attention is elsewhere, one of the midfielders, Ben Watson or Etienne Capoue, will drop back to close down the space.
For a young and inexperienced player to receive such a high level of assistance is impressive. "I’m definitely feeling more comfortable," Ake admitted recently. "I think as a defence we are playing better every week. Tactically Britos is really good and defensively we don't concede many chances. The whole back four talk to each other throughout the game and the way we are performing is really good. But we can always improve."
Flores deserves a huge amount of credit for each Watford player's willingness to sacrifice some of his own game for the betterment of the team. It’s a key reason why Ake has nailed down the left-back spot and continues to impress. "Every day he is asking how he can improve," Watford chief Flores said. "I am very happy with Ake. He is improving every time. He has qualities."
Back to the Bridge?
His determination, tireless work-rate and fighting spirit were demonstrated in the Hornets' recent triumph over West Ham. Not only did Ake successfully shut down Victor Moses, he also supplied the assist for Odion Ighalo's opener after his relentless pressure allowed him to rob Andy Carroll of the ball and slide it across to the in-form Nigerian marksman. Many full-backs in a similar scenario may have given up the chase and not bothered closing down Carroll with such ferocity, but Ake was onto him in a flash and he reaped the rewards for his effort.
Although Ake was made to wait for his chance at Vicarage Road, it’s testament to his exemplary attitude and application that he's risen from being third choice left-back to the undisputed No.1 in such a short period of time.
Somewhat fittingly, Watford currently find themselves five points and five places above his parent club Chelsea. Ake had only one Premier League start to his name before this season, but his magnificent recent form has proven that he has more than enough quality to be a regular at this level for years to come.
As one of 32 Chelsea players out on loan, it's hard to imagine Ake returning to the club and automatically becoming a first-team regular. Jose Mourinho (or whoever is in charge at Stamford Bridge next term) could do far worse than showing some faith in Ake and giving him a first-team opportunity when his loan expires. That’s exactly what Flores did, and the Dutchman has repaid him.
More features like this every day on FFT.com
STATS ZONE Free on iOS • Free on Android
