Elliot Anderson has acknowledged that England’s World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina continues to trouble him, but he hopes the confidence gained from his displays during the competition will help him begin his Manchester City career strongly.
Anderson is expected to make his first appearance for City when they face Premier League champions Arsenal in the Community Shield at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Sunday.
“It’s extremely difficult,” Anderson said when discussing England’s defeat. “I’m still trying to come to terms with it. Football brings both good and bad moments, and what matters is how you respond.
“I’ve had three weeks to think about what happened, but a new season is beginning and you have to look ahead.
I’ve gained a great deal of belief from showing that I can perform at a World Cup. I had never competed on a stage of that size before, so it was an important challenge for me.”
The 23-year-old could take on an important role in City’s midfield amid Barcelona’s efforts to sign Rodri. The Spanish club submitted another £51m offer on Wednesday as it attempts to complete a deal for the 30-year-old. Should the Ballon d’Or winner leave, City’s new No 5 is expected to contribute to the plan for replacing him in midfield. Asked whether his playing style resembles that of the Spaniard, Anderson said: “I believe it does. I’m capable of performing several different duties in midfield, and I’ll find out which position suits me best.
“I’m willing to play wherever I’m needed, whether that involves creating opportunities, carrying the ball forward or taking on a deeper role.”
Anderson arrived from Nottingham Forest for £116m, briefly setting a British-player transfer record before Morgan Rogers completed a £117m move to Chelsea. City had monitored him for a long time while Pep Guardiola was the manager. After his extended involvement with England at the World Cup, the former Newcastle midfielder has not yet played for City under new head coach Enzo Maresca.
Guardiola’s exit did not cause Anderson to reconsider his choice. “This is an enormous club with some of the finest players around. I want to train alongside footballers of this quality and demonstrate what I can do every day.
“[Kevin] De Bruyne has been the footballer I admired most over the past decade. I always enjoyed watching him, so joining the same club and operating in the position where he played means a lot to me.”
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