Pep Guardiola’s Key Words to Jeremy Doku on Joining Manchester City Revealed
Since Pep Guardiola’s arrival in 2016, Manchester City has seen a wide array of new faces join the club, with one notable addition being Jeremy Doku. Signed in the 2023 summer transfer window for £55m from Rennes, Doku, now 22, has impressed in his first season, making 56 appearances, scoring 8 goals, and providing 13 assists across all competitions.
In the midst of his second season at the Etihad, Doku opened up about the crucial words Guardiola shared with him upon joining the team. Speaking in a recent video alongside Ben Foster on Amazon Prime Video Sport’s YouTube channel, Doku revealed what the manager said when he first arrived at City:
“He believed in me. That he believed in me, that I can be important for the team,” Doku shared. “Obviously, he’s not going to say you can start every game; that depends on yourself, how you work, how you perform. But he showed interest, and for me, that was important.”
The winger emphasized the importance of knowing his role, adding, “For me, it’s important because I want to play and I want to know what my chances are to play. I want to know that my coach knows what I am, knows what my style of play. I just wanted to see the interest of my coach and what he expects from me.”
Doku also reflected on his early days at City, mentioning how two teammates, Nathan Aké and Kevin De Bruyne, helped him settle in. He said, “When I arrived, Nathan and Kevin were really the ones because obviously my English wasn’t like now, I spoke English but obviously it’s not the same, and they speak Dutch, so it was easier for me.”
Now, Doku, who has started 8 of 13 appearances this season, with 2 goals and 2 assists to his name, has built strong relationships with all his teammates. “But now I speak with everyone, and I’m close with everyone; I have love for everyone.”
With Manchester City competing in several competitions this season, Doku’s progression will be key for the team. As he continues to develop and contribute, adding more goals and assists to his game, the Belgian winger will look to repay the trust Guardiola placed in him from the start of his City career.
