Pep Guardiola hailed the progress of Jeremy Doku after the winger played a starring role in Manchester City’s emphatic 5-1 triumph over Burnley at the Etihad Stadium. The Belgian forward has often divided opinion with inconsistent displays since arriving at the club, but his sharp performance on Saturday underlined why his manager believes he is finally maturing into a decisive weapon.
Doku was directly involved in two key moments as City overpowered the visitors. Burnley defender Maxime Esteve put through his own net following pressure from Doku, and the winger later supplied the assist for Erling Haaland’s first strike of the game. Haaland, who netted a late brace, put the result beyond doubt after earlier goals from Matheus Nunes and another Esteve own goal had given City a commanding lead.
Guardiola praised Doku’s growing intelligence in the final third, particularly his ability to pick out the right pass under pressure. “I ask the wingers in the final third to go one versus one or even one versus two, and Jeremy’s decision-making has improved a lot. He now sees the channels, creates space for others, and knows when to make the extra pass. He has become an incredible threat against teams that sit deep,” Guardiola said.
The 23-year-old has made an encouraging start to the season with one goal and three assists in seven appearances. His pace and directness remain his biggest assets, but Guardiola noted that his understanding of when to release the ball or draw defenders has added a new dimension to City’s attack.
The victory was another step forward for City after a sluggish start to the campaign that included defeats against Tottenham and Brighton. Guardiola pointed to his team’s improved spirit and cohesion as crucial in recent weeks. “Since the derby win against United, I feel the team has shown a different body language. Even when we were not at our best against Arsenal, the way we defended and helped each other made the difference. That is the key to everything,” he said.
With momentum gathering, City will hope Doku’s rise continues as they push to reclaim their dominant form in the Premier League.
