DOKU AT RISK? WHY ANTOINE SEMENYO IS PEP GUARDIOLA’S NEW FAVORITE LEFT WINGER
Antoine Semenyo is pushing for a start! After a 10-1 debut win, will Pep Guardiola pick him over Jeremy Doku against Newcastle?
Honestly, I can’t see Pep Guardiola leaving Antoine Semenyo out of Manchester City’s lineup for Tuesday’s EFL Cup semi-final against Newcastle. Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany pretty much said the same thing to Sports Mole—Pep’s going to find it way too tempting after what Semenyo did last weekend.
Semenyo just arrived from Bournemouth for £64 million, and the guy barely had time to unpack before he tore up Exeter City in the FA Cup. He scored, set up another, and grabbed man of the match on his debut. Not a bad way to introduce yourself at the Etihad.
Now, after that 10-1 thrashing, Semenyo’s in the mix to keep his spot when City heads to St. James’ Park to take on the cup holders. McInerney thinks Semenyo will start on the left. And honestly, he figures Jeremy Doku should be a little worried about his place.
“I think Semenyo starts,” McInerney said. “People expect him on the right and Doku to come in, but I actually think Doku’s more at risk than anyone realises. To me, there’s a real possibility that in a couple of months, the starting wingers will be Semenyo and Cherki.”
He broke it down further: Doku’s a top creator; nobody doubts that. He’s electric with the ball, especially in the Premier League. But McInerney rates Cherki even higher as a pure creator—he’s got a different style, but he thinks Cherki has more genius and puts up more chances. Plus, Cherki scores more than Doku, even though he doesn’t always play out wide.
And then there’s Semenyo. As a goalscorer, he’s ahead of both. If you want one creator and one finisher, McInerney would go for Cherki and Semenyo. He says there’s a precision and simplicity to Semenyo’s game that could really appeal to Guardiola, especially on the left.
But he’s not ruling out Doku and Semenyo both starting on the wings, with Foden slotting in behind Haaland and Cherki dropping to the bench. It’s not obvious who Pep will pick. McInerney keeps coming back to the idea that Doku isn’t as safe as people think.
“He needs to be more direct,” McInerney said about Doku. “He’s brilliant, but sometimes he does a lot to achieve a little. It’s not a knock—his style is busy and effective. But he’s not a high-volume goals or assists guy. He creates a lot of half-chances and carries the ball brilliantly. But Semenyo does that too, and he scores far more. Honestly, I don’t think Doku’s spot is safe. I’d say Semenyo starts.”
That said, McInerney wouldn’t be shocked if both Semenyo and Doku get the nod against Newcastle, with Foden in the middle and Cherki sitting out. “I can see Cherki missing out, especially since it’s Newcastle,” he said. “Cherki’s been brilliant, but lately he’s looked a bit sloppy, and I reckon Guardiola might want to rest him, play Foden at 10, and start Semenyo on the right and Doku on the left.”
Looking ahead to the game itself, McInerney expects fireworks. “Neither side is going to keep it tight, let’s be honest. The city’s defence is shaky right now. Alleyne and Khusanov have done well, but this is Newcastle at St. James’ Park in a semi-final. There’s no way this ends 0-0. I’d take a goalless draw, but I just can’t see it. Honestly, it could turn into a classic—loads of goals, pure entertainment. I just hope City doesn’t lose. If they avoid defeat, that’s a decent result, especially with tired players and a patched-up backline.”
PERFECT FOR PEP: WHY SERGIO AGUERO BELIEVES RAPHINHA IS THE ULTIMATE CITY WINGER
Raphinha to Man City: Discover why Aguero thinks the Barca winger fits Pep’s system and the update on Julian Alvarez’s future.
Sergio Agüero thinks Raphinha would be a dream signing for Manchester City. The Brazilian winger made a real impact during his time at Leeds United, racking up 17 goals and 12 assists in just two seasons. Honestly, Leeds probably owed their Premier League survival back then to him; right after he left, they dropped to the Championship.
When Raphinha first arrived at Barcelona, things didn’t go smoothly. There were constant rumours about him heading back to England, but he managed to work his way into the starting lineup and became a key player. Since Hansi Flick took charge for the 2023/24 season, Raphinha’s numbers have exploded to 47 goals and 31 assists so far. Flick just knows how to get the best out of his attacking players, and Raphinha’s thriving because of it.
Still, whispers about Raphinha leaving Barcelona haven’t gone away. The club’s financial problems just won’t quit, and they’re reportedly open to selling a big-name player if the price is right. Arsenal and Chelsea have both been linked to him in the past, but they’re after younger players these days. But Agüero says City shouldn’t be counted out.
Talking to Trivela, Aguero was asked which Brazilian player would fit best at City under Pep Guardiola. He didn’t hesitate; Raphinha’s his pick. “Among those already in Europe, I really like Raphinha. He would fit perfectly into City’s style,” Aguero said.
If City did sign Raphinha, he’d probably be their top winger right away. He ticks all the boxes for Guardiola’s system. But let’s be real, the transfer isn’t likely. City has shifted focus to younger talent guys like Savinho, Jeremy Doku, and Rayan Cherki as they look to refresh the squad.
Barcelona, strapped for cash, would consider selling Raphinha, but they’d probably pump that money right back into their attack. There’s talk of Julian Alvarez now at Atletico Madrid being on their radar. With Robert Lewandowski’s contract up and Barcelona needing a new striker, that’s a priority for them this summer. If Alvarez is too pricey, Sport says they might go for City’s Omar Marmoush instead.
So, what about a swap deal of Raphinha for Marmoush or someone else? It sounds unlikely.
Sure, Raphinha is the “perfect fit". But City aren’t about to splash a huge fee on someone about to turn 30.
Aguero also touched on Guardiola’s future at City. Fans are worried he might leave, but Aguero doesn’t think there’s any reason to panic. “Pep still has one more year on his contract,” he said. “There’s no point debating it now; it just creates noise. When the time comes, it’ll be sorted. Nothing to stress about.”
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.
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