THE ANTOINE SEMENYO IMPACT: ANALYZING THE £62.5M SIGNING’S SEAMLESS FIT INTO CITY’S SYSTEM
Guardiola eyes a fourth straight FA Cup final after a 10-1 rout. Discover how new signing Semenyo and star Rodri fueled the win.
Pep Guardiola isn’t backing off—he’s going all in. After smashing Exeter 10-1, he’s already dreaming of another slice of history with Manchester City: a fourth straight FA Cup final.
Honestly, Saturday couldn’t have been a better chance for him to give his tired squad a break. The team has been limping along with injuries, dropping points in their last three league games. You’d expect Guardiola to fill the lineup with academy kids against a League One team, especially with the Carabao Cup semi, the Manchester derby, and the Champions League all looming in the next two weeks.
But no. Even though he started the week with only two senior centre-backs available, he somehow got three on the pitch for the last two games. Haaland kept his spot, and Rodri, Rayan Cherki, and new £62.5 million signing Antoine Semenyo all started this one. Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku? They didn’t even step on the field until City was already six up, an hour in.
For the 8,000 Exeter fans who made the trip to the Etihad, it was a night to remember—just not the way they hoped. The lineup alone killed off any real dreams of a cup upset (or a big payday) before the whistle blew. Max Alleyne, still riding the high from a dream week, bagged the opener at 12 minutes. Guardiola, stuck in the stands serving a one-game ban for too many yellow cards, barely needed to move. The city put on a clinic.
Ryan McAidoo, just 17 and fresh from Chelsea this year, was bright down the right wing. He set up the first and fourth goals smartly. Rodri smashed in City’s second—his first goal since May—and made a point of saluting the fans after what’s been a rough year and a half for him.
Semenyo, a little quiet early on, came alive in the second half—first with a slick assist for Rico Lewis, then a sharp finish of his own before Guardiola subbed him off. Sure, Exeter’s not the toughest test, but you could see already that he fits right in. If he’s pushing Doku for minutes, that’s exactly the kind of depth Guardiola craves.
A 10-1 win, and none of them scored by Haaland—that’s the sort of performance Guardiola lives for. It ties his biggest margin as City boss, matching the 9-0 rout of Burton back in 2019. That year, City went on to sweep every domestic trophy.
This squad doesn’t look as stacked as that team from seven years ago, not even close. Still, they look a lot better than they did just a week back. As they head to Newcastle for the semi-final, City will take that any day.
TITLE BLUEPRINT: HOW MANCHESTER CITY’S GAME IN HAND COULD DECIDE THE 2026 PREMIER LEAGUE
Title hunt. Get the report on Guardiola’s control, Arteta’s lead, and the upcoming Leeds United clash.
Manchester City did exactly what they needed to over the weekend. They battled past Newcastle, squeaking out a 2-1 win that keeps their Premier League fate in their own hands. For a moment, City sat just two points behind Arsenal, at least until Arsenal rolled into Tottenham and smashed their rivals 4-1. That put Arsenal five clear at the top again, but City still have that all-important game in hand. After a weekend loaded with nerves and tension, City are still right in the thick of the title race, which is really all they can ask for at this point.
That win over Newcastle felt like a real test. You could feel the anxiety in the air at the Etihad. Newcastle didn’t just show up to make up the numbers; they pushed City hard and never let them settle. Every minute felt tight. City knew they had to win, especially with Arsenal dropping points to Wolves. More than that, they needed to prove to themselves they could handle the pressure. In the end, they got the job done, and that’s what mattered most.
Arsenal answered right back. They walked into the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and blew Spurs away, 4-1. After their slip against Wolves, it was a real statement. Like City, Arsenal now control their own destiny. And now there’s that huge match coming up in April at the Etihad. If both teams keep winning, that could be the day the title race really explodes.
Looking ahead, neither City nor Arsenal will want to let anything slip. There’s just too much on the line. Sure, some people love a gamble; maybe they’d enjoy spinning the reels on Dragon Risk Slot, but Guardiola and Arteta aren’t gamblers when it comes to the title. They’ll want total control, nothing left to chance.
So, after a weekend packed with drama, both teams are right where they want to be. City got what they needed against Newcastle, and now they’ll look to keep that momentum going, starting with Leeds at Elland Road next weekend. The race is on.
BARCA TARGET MARMOUSH: MANCHESTER CITY STAR EMERGES AS TOP ALTERNATIVE FOR CATALAN GIANTS
Striker hunt: Discover why Barcelona are eyeing Omar Marmoush as a cut-price alternative to Atletico's €200m Julián Alvarez.
Barcelona are eyeing Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush as they look to bring in a new striker this summer.
Sport says Barcelona have already nailed down their main targets for next season, and a new No. 9 tops the list. The problem? The market’s thin, prices are crazy, and the big names cost a fortune.
Julián Alvarez is the dream signing, but Atlético Madrid wants about €150m (£130m). That’s way out of reach. So, Barca are already weighing other options, and Marmoush is high on their list of names they like.
Here’s why Marmoush’s situation at City makes things interesting. City bought him from Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2025 for €75m (£65m). Pep Guardiola had tracked him for a while; Marmoush was tearing it up in the Bundesliga, and even then, Barcelona’s scouts were watching him too. They think he’d fit right into Hansi Flick’s style, with his speed and link-up play.
But things haven’t clicked for him at City. Erling Haaland is locked in as the main striker, so Marmoush has mostly been on the bench or pushed out wide. He’s shown flashes when he’s come on, but the minutes just haven’t been there. Missing a month for the Africa Cup of Nations didn’t help either, so his stats look pretty average.
Rumours about a possible exit started back in January. Marmoush wants more game time and a bigger role, something Barcelona can offer. Still, they’re not the only ones watching. Tottenham, Aston Villa, and Galatasaray are all interested, which makes his future even more up in the air.
So, is Marmoush’s time at City almost up? Barcelona are in a good spot if Marmoush decides to leave this summer. He’s not their top choice, but if the Alvarez deal falls apart, they could pivot fast.
For City, it all comes down to price. Marmoush cost them €75m (£65m) not long ago, but reports say he could go for less if Guardiola gives the green light. Selling him at a discount would be a big statement; it would basically say he’s not in their plans behind Haaland.
Right now, there’s no official offer. Barcelona are keeping a close eye on things, and a lot depends on whether Marmoush asks for a move after the season wraps up. If he does, City will have to fend off competition from England and Turkey to get the deal done.
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