THE SEMENYO EFFECT: HOW MAN CITY’S JANUARY SIGNING BECAME THEIR MOST CLINICAL FINISHER YET
No Haaland, no problem: Antoine Semenyo netted his sixth goal in 11 games as Manchester City piled pressure on the Gunners.
Antoine Semenyo’s first-half goal gave Manchester City a tough 1-0 win at Leeds, closing the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal to just two points.
Semenyo has just kept scoring since he arrived from Bournemouth in January. Right before halftime, he finished off a rare chance with real composure – one shot, one goal – and that’s all City needed.
That’s four league wins in a row for City. Arsenal have to feel the pressure now before their match against Chelsea on Sunday. As for Leeds, they’ll be kicking themselves after wasting several good chances in the first half.
Daniel Farke’s side have only lost three of their last 15 league games, but this one stings – a rare defeat under the Elland Road lights. Leeds still sit six points clear of the drop zone, but they know it could’ve been more.
City played this one without their top scorer, Erling Haaland. He picked up a minor knock in training, so he missed out on facing his boyhood club. Rayan Cherki stepped in as City’s only change from last week’s win over Newcastle. Leeds kept the same lineup that drew with Aston Villa.
Leeds have been fighting for survival ever since Phil Foden’s late winner at the Etihad back in November. Since then, they’ve only lost twice in 14 league games. They almost got off to the perfect start here, too. In just the third minute, Dominic Calvert-Lewin somehow sent Brenden Aaronson’s perfect cross wide from right in front of the goal.
The game paused in the 11th minute, so City’s Muslim players could break their Ramadan fast. Soon after, Calvert-Lewin had another go from a tight angle but missed again.
City’s keeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, caught a shot from James Justin, and Aaronson fired just wide after a cross from Jayden Bogle. Leeds pressed hard and won the ball high up the pitch, but they couldn’t make it count.
About 15 minutes before halftime, City started to get a grip on the game. Even then, Leeds had another big chance. Aaronson broke free on the counter, but Donnarumma stood firm in a one-on-one. Then City finally threatened: Nico O’Reilly’s header forced a good save from Karl Darlow.
Right before the break, City struck. Rayan Ait-Nouri sprinted down the left, picked out by Cherki’s brilliant pass, and crossed for Semenyo to tap in his sixth goal in 11 City matches.
Leeds came out flying again after halftime. Matheus Nunes blocked Calvert-Lewin in the box with a last-ditch tackle, but City soon settled into their rhythm.
Darlow had to make a spectacular save to deny Marc Guehi’s header. After that, City controlled most of the play, while Leeds worked hard to keep them from creating more clear chances.
Near the end, the home crowd came alive when substitute Jaka Bijol’s header went inches wide. But City held on, securing their 18th league win of the season.
WHY PEP GUARDIOLA CANCELLED TRAINING BEFORE MANCHESTER CITY’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REMATCH
Pep Guardiola cancels Manchester City training to combat fatigue ahead of the 3-0 comeback attempt vs Real Madrid.
Pep Guardiola has shared his reasoning for skipping training the day before Manchester City’s crucial Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid at the Etihad. Facing a tough three-goal deficit from their 3-0 loss at the Bernabeu last week, City are up against the difficult task of overturning this against a team that has won Europe’s top trophy 15 times.
Historically, only four teams have managed to claw back a gap of three or more goals in the knockout stages, so the challenge ahead is immense. Guardiola acknowledges his players will need to deliver an almost flawless performance if they hope to stage a remarkable comeback on home turf. Still, he remains hopeful they will create plenty of scoring chances against Alvaro Arbeloa’s side.
In a somewhat unexpected move, Guardiola has decided to give his first team a day off on Monday, opting for a light session just hours before kickoff on Tuesday. At Monday’s press conference, he explained the logic behind this approach, citing the fatigue from travel and recent matches. After returning late from Madrid, then heading to London for a Premier League draw against West Ham, the players have had a packed schedule. Guardiola feels a day of rest will serve them better than trying to squeeze in more training.
He further emphasised the mental aspect, pointing out that mental strength plays a big role in how well they perform. He plans to assess the players’ condition and conduct training on Tuesday afternoon. With travel taking its toll and players spontaneously connecting with their families, he believes keeping them relaxed and fresh is crucial.
Captain Bernardo Silva, who was the only City player present for media duties, supported Guardiola’s decision. He reflected on past occasions when the team took rest days following both wins and losses, trusting the manager’s judgement to help them regroup and come back stronger.
On team news, Guardiola revealed he has most of his starting lineup settled, though one spot remains uncertain. Josko Gvardiol (tibial fracture) and Rico Lewis (ankle) are sidelined, but Mateo Kovacic has returned to the bench after recovering from a lengthy ankle and heel injury. With these preparations in place, City will be charging into a daunting but pivotal night against one of Europe’s giants.
WHY RAYAN CHERKI DESERVES TO START MANCHESTER CITY’S MUST-WIN REAL MADRID REMATCH
Rayan Cherki’s creative cameo wasn't enough to save City’s title hopes as focus shifts to the Real Madrid UCL clash.
Pep Guardiola, as always, has shown he’s willing to face criticism head-on, especially when it comes to his tactical choices. After Manchester City’s recent draw at the London Stadium, all eyes turned to his handling of Rayan Cherki. The young substitute’s influence on the game starkly contrasted with the lacklustre performance of the starting lineup.
That draw against West Ham was a blow to City’s title hopes, putting them nine points behind the league leaders. Guardiola decided to deploy Antoine Semenyo and Omar Marmoush on the wings to support Erling Haaland, but that front three failed to break down a stubborn West Ham defence. The game’s momentum shifted in the second half when Cherki came on alongside other subs like Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku. Cherki’s creativity and close ball control started to open up opportunities that hadn’t been there in the first hour, although City still couldn’t find the winner.
In the post-match analysis, Guardiola didn’t shy away from owning up to his decisions. He called his starting lineup a “bad selection” and openly accepted the criticism. He explained that the problem partly comes down to balance: earlier in the season, playing Erling Haaland alongside players like Doku or Cherki made the team feel unsteady, lacking the Premier League stability required.
Still, despite the dropped points, Guardiola remains hopeful. He sees City as a team developing, one that has grown quite a bit but is still a work in progress. He defended starting Semenyo, recognising the stability brought by players like him and Nico O’Reilly on the wings. At the same time, he praised Cherki’s unique impact, especially when coming off the bench late in games, even if the young player doesn’t always have the pace.
As the Premier League frustrations settle, City’s focus now shifts quickly to their upcoming Champions League showdown with Real Madrid. Facing a 3-0 aggregate deficit, this midweek tie promises to be a stern test, demanding all the tactical acumen Guardiola can muster.
