Antoine Semenyo revealed he still follows Sunderland and shared details of a Luke O’Nien reunion after Manchester City’s 5-3 win
Antoine Semenyo has revealed he still follows Sunderland and was delighted to see the progress his former club have made after facing them in Manchester City’s 5-3 victory.
The forward scored twice at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, helping City overcome a Sunderland side who repeatedly threatened and stayed in contention through Brian Brobbey’s hat-trick. Despite his contribution to the hosts’ win, Semenyo was full of praise for the visitors and the problems they caused.
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Semenyo briefly played for Sunderland on loan during their time in League One, giving him first-hand experience of a very different period in the club’s recent history. He has continued to take an interest in their fortunes and caught up with former team-mate Luke O’Nien around Sunday’s fixture.
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Asked about Sunderland’s rise from the third tier to competing with City in the Premier League, Semenyo said: “Yeah, so much growth from them. “I was literally speaking to Luke O'Nien, and I played with him when I was there, and it's so nice to see I've been following them still. They're doing great and just have to keep on going.”
Sunderland twice drew level in the first half through Brobbey before Semenyo restored City’s advantage heading into the break. His second made it 4-2, but Brobbey completed his treble to bring Régis Le Bris’ side back within a goal.
The visitors continued to push for an equaliser before Erling Haaland eventually scored City’s fifth. Semenyo acknowledged that Sunderland had made life difficult for the hosts, particularly with their physical threat and deliveries into the penalty area. “They were very good today,” he said. “There were a lot of problems with the aerial battles and just getting into the box with long throws and set pieces.”
The result left Sunderland with four points from their opening five league matches, but Semenyo’s assessment offered further recognition of an encouraging attacking display. For a player who knew the club in League One, their performance also provided a reminder of how much has changed since his spell on Wearside.