Pep wouldn't say it but that doesn't change that he is 4th choice. If we had a big game that we needed to win then Ake wouldn't start.
If the day before the game one of the two centre halves who had been chosen to start got injured then Ake still wouldn't start.
Therefore he would be the 4th choice.
We play to and therefore need to win every game. Which by your claim above means Ake would never ever start. Which he does, so it is clearly complete bollocks.