Swiss Man City Owned Defender Ahead Of Inter Milan Vs Arsenal Clash: “Can Play In Midfield If Needed” | OneFootball

Inter Milan star Manuel Akanji could reportedly start in midfield in tomorrow night’s clash against Arsenal.

During the pre-match conference via FCInterNews, the 30-year-old confirmed he would be open to taking a new role.

Known for his tactical intelligence and awareness, Manuel Akanji has established himself as one of Europe’s best defenders.

Despite falling out of favor with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, the Swiss star has reaffirmed his credentials at San Siro this season.

Indeed, Akanji has quickly leapfrogged Stefan de Vrij, Francesco Acerbi, and Yann Bisseck in the pecking order.

In doing so, he has become a cornerstone of Inter’s defense alongside long-serving stalwart Alessandro Bastoni.

Therefore, Inter have already decided to activate a purchase option in their loan agreement with Man City.

Meanwhile, Akanji could take a new role as Cristian Chivu cannot count on standout playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu.

As such, the former Borussia Dortmund ace could switch to the middle of the park as an emergency solution tomorrow.

Inter Milan Star Manuel Akanji Comments on Potential Midfield Role vs Arsenal

VERONA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 02: Manuel Akanji of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and FC Internazionale at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on November 02, 2025 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Asked if he expects to play in midfield tomorrow, Akanji replied: “No, I don’t expect to play there.

“But I can play anywhere because I give my best to help the team. My role is defender.

“When I was at City, I played two or three times as the ball-playing defender, and I can do that too.

“But I think my main role is central in a back three. When the coach needs me, I’ll be willing to play in midfield.”

Meanwhile, he also highlighted Inter’s most notable improvements under Chivu.

“Yes, definitely we’ve made progress. We’ve improved, and it’s been visible in the results of the last matches.

“We’ve gotten better defensively; we don’t concede the same chances as before, we concede fewer goals.

“Offensively, we’ve also found interesting ways to score.

“Every match is its own story, but we’ve been effective, and I hope we’ll be tomorrow as well.”

Then, he explained his relationship with Chivu.

“From the beginning, our relationship has been very good,” Akanji added. “I spoke with him the day I signed, and we’ve always stayed in touch.

“We talk often, even between matches; there are always details to discuss, and he is always available.

“I played as a defensive midfielder in the last match, so I’m very happy to be here.

“I really appreciate the coach’s availability, the staff, and my teammates.”

Moreover, he delivered another foggy update about his future.

“My previous answer was about whether City would call me to return in the winter, and I said no.

“But regarding what will happen in the summer, I can’t say.

“I only know that I’m very happy here and I hope I can continue here; we’ll see what happens.”

Inter Milan Center-Back Manuel Akanji Praises Old Foes Arsenal

MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 26: Manuel Akanji of FC Internazionale Milano controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Atletico de Madrid and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadio Metropolitano on November 26, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Akanji frequently faced Arsenal during his three-year stint at the Etihad Stadium.

It makes him uniquely qualified to talk about the Gunners’ strengths.

“I believe Arsenal is among the best in Europe,” Akanji claimed. “Not the very best, but among the top. It will be a great challenge tomorrow.

“And I’m confident about us; we’re ready. No, there was never any risk that City would call me back.

“Honestly, I don’t watch much football anymore. At home, I have three kids, and I already have plenty of football in my work.

“I don’t watch it at home.

“That said, they already have many good players who can cover the gaps left by injuries, so they certainly maintain a very consistent performance, which is important to remain competitive.”

Asked what Inter must do to beat Mikel Arteta’s side, Akanji replied: “First of all, effectiveness, especially against big teams; any mistake can be punished.

“The same goes for us, so we need to be effective and ruthless in front of goal, but also precise in possession. It won’t be easy, but we’re confident.”

Inter squeaked past Arsenal last season, eking out a narrow 1-0 win here.

“It’s hard to compare with last year because I hadn’t arrived yet,” Akanji admitted.

“But offensively, Arsenal is a very good team, scoring a lot, even from set pieces.

“Still, in Europe, there are strong attacking players everywhere. So I don’t think Arsenal is stronger than teams like Atletico Madrid or Liverpool.

“We need to stay focused.”

Finally, Akanji identified Bayern Munich as the leading candidates to win the trophy this season.

“In my opinion, the strongest is Bayern. We want to win the Serie A, which is the goal every year, and in the Champions League.

“We want to be among the top eight. Everyone knows what Inter is capable of; then we’ll see the rest.”