Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola declared Nathan Ake as an outstanding defender ahead of his side's game against Brighton in the Premier League.

Ake, who has played 23 times this season as a center back and left back, has been very impressive in recent weeks.

Despite his side's defeat in the FA Cup semi-final to Liverpool at the weekend, Guardiola is happy with his players, and ready for the remainder of the campaign.

"He is so reliable," Guardiola stated about Ake at his press conference.

"Especially when you behave in your life like he does, always you will play good.

"In the bad phases he is always helping. When he doesn't get the minutes he deserves and then gets the minutes, he's thinking about the other ones and has done well.

"He is an exceptional person. His mother and father who passed away should be so proud.

"The older I get, the more aware of this kind of behaviour I am. Your life is better when you behave like this."