Pep Guardiola may have changed his mind on Jeremy Doku at Manchester City, and the Belgian winger is now benefitting from it.
That’s according to Steven Defour, Sam Kerkhofs and Hein Vanhaezebrouck, [via Sporza](https://sporza.be/nl/2025/09/15/-hij-koppelde-voor-het-eerst-zijn-acties-aan-efficientie-90-minutes-ziet-jeremy-doku-opnieuw-schitteren-bij-city~1757968808619/), who cover Doku today after his impressive performance in Manchester City’s 3-0 derby win over Manchester United.
The Belgian winger was one of the key players in the comfortable win for Manchester City, with his driving, jinking run in the first half seeing him set up Phil Foden’s opening goal.
He then bagged a second assist when Erling Haaland doubled Manchester City’s lead in the 53rd minute with a deft dink over Altay Bayindir after Doku put him through.
It was a superb overall performance from Doku, who carried on his superb form from the international break when he bagged two goals and one assist in Belgium’s 6-0 win over Kazakhstan.
He appears to have been given a new role by Pep Guardiola this season as the Manchester City boss works on a new system and style after their disappointing campaign last year.
And Defour, Kerkhofs and Vanhaezebrouck can all see a difference, believing that Guardiola would have went crazy in the past if Doku had done what he did for the first goal.
“For the first time, he combined his actions with efficiency,” said Defour.
“He’s also very much in the game defensively. He should really have had three assists. I think he plays much more maturely. When he makes a move, it’s much more purposeful.”
“Pep would have gone crazy in the past if he saw Doku make a move against five men, like he did with the first goal,” added Kerkhofs.
“Pep had gone golfing and watching tennis, and it opened his mind. I asked Doku about it, and he said: that’s possible,” concluded Vanhaezebrouck.
“And he does that move so well. If you do it down the line, there’s still an inside line for the defender. But now he’s doing that hook shot to the outside. He only has to kick for that first goal. If he crosses, it’s in.
“Doku ultimately does a brilliant job, but it’s secondary. Otherwise, we’d mark a great dribble, not a good pass.”