Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has stated that Jeremy Doku possesses the ability to rival elite talents like Lamine Yamal and Vinicius Jr.
The Belgian winger is enjoying a superb run of form, scoring his eighth goal of the season with a curling strike into the top corner against Brentford. In his third season at City, Doku has finally added consistent end product to his game.
Guardiola praised Doku’s mentality after the 23-year-old scored a dramatic 90+7th minute equalizer in a 3-3 draw with Everton and then opened the scoring in a 3-0 victory over Brentford. The Catalan manager challenged Doku to push himself further.
“Always he accepts being pushed, and that is so nice! We are really pleased, but not just now, since he arrived,” Guardiola said. “Now he’s winning games, goals obviously, but always he has been really, really good. What it depends on is your mentality saying, ‘I want to become one of the best wingers in the world!’ Otherwise you’re in your comfort zone saying, ‘No, it’s fine, it’s fine!’
“Always Jeremy has been dribbles, and work, and whatever. Always he tries! But (now) he says, ‘No, I want to become one of the best, or the best’. That is when you reach that level.”
With January signing Antoine Semenyo and summer arrival Rayan Cherki also taking on more responsibility in the final third, City have eased the goalscoring burden on Erling Haaland. The Blues remain in pursuit of a domestic treble in the final weeks of the season, with Doku’s blistering form keeping them on Arsenal’s heels in the Premier League title race.
City trail Arsenal by five points but have a game in hand against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night. They must win their three remaining Premier League matches and hope the Gunners slip up against Burnley and Crystal Palace to snatch the title.
Guardiola’s side also face Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley this weekend, having already lifted the Carabao Cup in March after beating Arsenal in the final. With no margin for error, City aim to give departing stars Bernardo Silva and John Stones a fitting send-off before what promises to be a busy transfer window at the Etihad.