Pep Guardiola has admitted winger Jeremy Doku has genuinely surprised him since he signed for Manchester City.
The winger produced an electric performance yesterday in a thumping 6-1 win over Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium.
Doku, preferred to Jack Grealish in the starting XI, was unplayable at times and had a hand in five of City’s six goals.
He laid on four assists, including two for Bernardo Silva, and also scored a brilliant goal himself.
Quite possibly, it was one of the best individual displays from any player in the Premier League so far this season. Every time he got the ball, he looked like he would wreak havoc.
It has been brilliant to watch Doku over the last couple of months and he is definitely starting to look really at home in this team now.
And that has actually come as something of a surprise to Pep, who gushed about Doku after yesterday’s game…
Pep Guardiola admits he has been surprised by Jeremy Doku for Manchester City so far
Often, it takes time for new players to settle when they join a new club. Especially young players coming in from a foreign league.
But Doku has been absolutely tremendous. Following a cagey first outing against Fulham, after which Pep called Doku ‘shy‘, the 21-year-old has been expressive and explosive for City.
And his start to life at the Etihad has taken Pep by surprise.
He said (mancity.com): “He’s just 21 and Txiki again made an incredible action by bringing him here and hopefully he’s happy and he can be here for many years.
“Am I surprised? Being honest, a little bit. Always we have nice expectations. He creates something for the crowd. When he takes the ball and goes everybody is excited, and me too. Something is going to happen, and it happens.”
Danny Murphy stated on Match of the Day last night that Doku was ‘absolutely sensational’ against the Cherries.
What a start for Doku
Doku deserves great credit for the way he has started at City, following his £55 million move from Rennes.
That was a lot of money for the club to pay, and naturally, such a big fee brings about a degree of pressure. But Doku does not appear to be feeling that pressure whatsoever.
The £50,000-a-week star is full of confidence, and you can see that defenders are scared of him. That burst of pace from a standing start is pretty frightening. And you get the feeling that’s going to be a major weapon for City.
While Doku has obviously started really promisingly, it is important to remember that he is still a young player and is nowhere near the finished article.
He is going to have games where he frustrates, and that is OK. He is in very good hands with Pep, who could eventually turn Doku into a world-class winger.
