Belgian is one of Manchester City’s most creative players but believes his game has to keep evolving
Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku believes he can become the “world’s best winger” if he can add more goals to his game.
The 23-year-old believes improving his scoring from close range will be key to his development, despite already producing strong creative numbers for City this season.
He currently has 11 assists in all competitions, an improvement on nine assists in each of his first two seasons at the club. Doku scored six times in his debut season in 2023-24 and eight last season, including two at the Club World Cup.
The Belgian started his career as a striker before moving wide as a teenager, and he believes his game has to keep evolving.
“I have to be more in the areas where you can score easy goals, tap-ins,” Doku said. “When I look at my goals, even this season, every time they are with dribbles. I want to score even five tap-ins a-season – that would make a big difference. A winger needs to score. If I have those goals then I believe that I can get there to be the world’s best winger, for sure, 100 per cent.”
“I was a striker when I was nine, 10 years old. Then I became a winger from about 12. I liked to watch Neymar, [Lionel] Messi, [Franck] Ribery, [Eden] Hazard, [Arjen] Robben, Ronaldinho. Then I created my own thing. I can’t do what they do and they don’t do what I do. I try to do my own thing with what my qualities are.”
Doku also spoke about his pace and how it compares within the City squad. “I’ve always been fast. My brother was fast, my dad, so it’s been in the family. I think [Abdukodir] Khusanov and I are the fastest in the squad. Over 15 metres, I back myself. But over maybe 40, he will win.”
“When I play now, most of the time there are two defenders on me, which is not a problem because that means another player is free. But I know one versus one, that’s my biggest quality.”
City face Championship side Southampton on Saturday in the FA Cup semi-final, and Doku hopes to help Pep Guardiola’s team reach a fourth consecutive final. He is also keen to go one better after defeats to Manchester United and Crystal Palace in their last two FA Cup finals.
“They stay on your mind, but I try to not shift my attention to the things I don’t have,” Doku said. “I’m grateful for what I’ve won already. So being in the semi-final, I want to go back to the final and win that trophy. Because I won a Carabao Cup, I won the Premier League, so I want to win the FA Cup as well.”
Is he motivated to win the FA Cup because City have lost on the last two occasions? “A bit yes, no,” Doku said. “Even if we won those finals, I would be motivated. Like I’m motivated right now to win the Premier League. Although I already won a Prem, I’m still motivated because you always want to win. It’s never enough, I would say.”
City won the Carabao Cup last month, beating league rivals Arsenal 2-0 at Wembley, and on Sunday they also claimed a 2-1 victory against Arsenal, before beating Burnley 1-0 in midweek to topple Mikel Arteta’s team at the top of the Premier League.
“We’ve already won a trophy and there’s still two trophies where we have everything in our hands,” Doku said. “OK, we are out of the Champions League, but imagine we win those two trophies and have a domestic treble. So we’re happy. Nothing to complain about.”
