Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says they're a stronger team thanks to Nathan Ake's progress this season.

Ake is now a first-choice for the new champions.

"He has been fundamental," Guardiola said after City's victory over Chelsea at the Etihad.

"I learned this season when you play against (Bukayo) Saka, Vinicius (Jnr), (Gabriel) Martinelli, (Mohamed) Salah or (Sadio) Mane in the past, you need a proper defender to win duels one v one.

"Or, in the Champions League, at that level, they need one action to beat you and Nathan gave us that boost that I didn't have in the past.

"The biggest boost was having a proper defender and in the past we didn't have it and Nathan, (Manuel) Akanji and [Kyle] Walker did it."