Twelve Manchester City players will be involved in the knockout stages of Euro 2024.placeholder image
Twelve Manchester City players will be involved in the knockout stages of Euro 2024. | AFP via Getty Images
Man City have made a slow start to the Premier League campaign but Jeremy Doku looks like he is hitting top form.
After gifting Liverpool the Premier League title last season, the last thing Pep Guardiola would have wanted would be for his Manchester City to be six points behind them already.
Two defeats in three games isn’t the sort of start that the City boss would have wanted after strengthening in the summer as he looks to find the perfect blend. The loss of Kevin de Bruyne is one that will take a while to get over but one player is determined to fill the void. What Jeremy Doku will be hoping for, is that he can bring his form for Belgium back to the Etihad.
Jeremy Doku finds form with Belgium
Playing alongside his former City teammate for the Red Devils, Doku chipped in with two goals and an assist against Kazakhstan in the sort of display that Guardiola could do with in the coming weeks. Doku created two chances, had four shots on target, and posted an 86% pass success rate. With 13 touches in the opposition box, he was a constant menace as Belgium won 6-0 on Sunday night.
Since signing for City, Doku has 34 goal contributions in 87 appearances, respectable, but he should be aiming for that sort of number every season given what players like Leroy Sane or Raheem Sterling used to get at their peak. At his best, the 23-year old has shown that he can be a matchwinner, now he needs to do it more consistently and replicate the 9.1 player rating from FotMob that he just achieved for Belgium. It wasn’t enough for man of the match though, with De Bruyne matching his numbers to earn 9.5.
What might go in his favour, is that the only game he started for City this season is the only game that they won. A 4-0 win over Wolves on the opening day, defeats to Tottenham and Brighton since that positive start would suggest that Guardiola will make changes when the Premier League returns with Doku’s international form suggesting that he could be recalled amid a mini-injury crisis for the clash with Man Utd.
What has Jeremy Doku said about his City form this season?
Positively, Doku knows exactly what he needs to do to become a key player for City.
“After the first match against Wolves, everyone had a good feeling, we won by a large score,” Doku said speaking on international duty with Belgium. “The next two matches it was a bit more difficult. When we concede, we drop our arms a bit and that’s where we need to be mentally stronger.”
On his own start to the season, Doku said, “I’m not yet fully in form. I’ve always been critical of myself, I know when I’m good and then don’t play afterwards, it’s not in my hands.
“But I also say when I’m not good, and I know I haven’t been in the first three matches. But I know it will come quickly and everything will be fine… This season, I want to work on my stats. Football isn’t just about stats, but they matter. I want to find myself in the penalty area more often.”
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