Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku spoke about his recent injury after the derby and his frustration over diving suggestions
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 27: Manchester City player Jeremy Doku delivers remarks during a press conference ahead of the UEFA Champions League eighth-round match between Manchester City and Galatasaray at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, United Kingdom, on January 27. (Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 27: Manchester City player Jeremy Doku delivers remarks during a press conference ahead of the UEFA Champions League eighth-round match between Manchester City and Galatasaray at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, United Kingdom, on January 27. (Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Jeremy Doku said that he could have been sidelined for a long time after Diogo Dalot's derby challenge as he opened up on the fouls that he has grown used to and the unfair reputations that wingers pick up.
The Manchester City forward was hurt as Dalot's studs raked over his knee early at Old Trafford earlier this month, and while he continued for most of the match he was left unable to feature days later in the Champions League defeat to Bodo/Glimt and only came off the bench against Wolves. Pep Guardiola said at the time that it should have been a red card and has complained since about PGMO head Howard Webb rushing to dismiss it.
"I can only say that I continued to play but was painful to play in Norway," said Doku. "You guys know my feelings about it. I could have [been out for a long time]. It happened and I didn't play in Norway but I don't want to go too much into it. It is the past now. Thanks to the Lord I didn't get injured badly and I am able to play now. It is the only thing I can focus on now.
Getting fouls have become part of the game for Doku with one of his main skills taking on defenders, and the Belgian reckons he gets at least one heavy knock per game from individual battles that he has to try to shrug off. More problematic for him is the insinuation that is sometimes reached that he has gone to ground too easily.
Guardiola railed against the idea that Doku is a diver at the weekend, having fumed last season when he was given a yellow card in the draw with Brighton for a tackle that the manager said could have broken his leg. Doku accepts that he is always going to get tough challenges but wants it recognised that he would not be going down unless he has been hurt.
"Knowing myself and my character, I know I am not a diver," he said. "If I fall on the ground then it is probably because something happened. In terms of laws, I just know that when I am on the ground I am not diving.
"It is their responsibility to see if it is a yellow or red, a foul or not a foul - that is their job.
"I would say in a week, at least one in a game where I feel it is a strong tackle, a heavy confrontation. I would say once a game. Fouls are fine, as long as I don't get injured. I see it as a compliment, they can't take the ball.
"For me it is more about the diving thing. When I don't get a foul, I am not diving. That is sometimes frustrating because I know my character and if I fall on the ground, it is because something happened.
"Sometimes players tell me more to fall more on the ground. That is more frustrating for sure."