AFC Bournemouth
Nathan Ake spoke about the effect of Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores on his early Premier League career as he prepares to take on Watford with the Cherries on Saturday.
Ake spent the 2015/16 on loan at Vicarage Road from Chelsea, with Sanchez Flores in charge at the time, as the Dutch defender got his first full season of Premier League football under his belt with the Hornets.
Ahead of the game, Ake told afcb.co.uk about the impression Sanchez Flores - back with Watford as manager this season - had on him.
He explained: "His organisation I think was very good so we'd go into games knowing exactly what we had to do. He was very specific so we'd go into games knowing we'd be solid defensively, and then we had Deeney and Ighalo and they could create all sorts of chances.
"He was a good manager for me, he gave me the chance, because in the first few games I played there I was not the best but he gave me confidence and the chance to play more games."
Ake played 28 matches in his time with Watford, and has fond memories of his time and the top-level experience he gained while with the club.
"The club is very nice, I really enjoyed my time there." he said. "Even though I was on loan I felt like I was part of the club, last year I saw the people there and that was good, they make it a very nice club.
"It was my first chance in the Premier League. My start wasn't great and I came in after the first match or two I think, but the manager gave me my chance in the team, playing left-back at the time, that was something different for me."
"I felt that with every game I was getting more experience. I got sent off against Tottenham in about December, it was all a learning curve. I went for a tackle and it was too high and I got a red card. That was a new one for me because I was young and I'd never experienced that before.
"Looking back, that was good, all part of my learning curve and becoming a better player."
