Pep Guardiola’s ten-year reign at Manchester City has often been defined by his meticulous planning and the structured, synchronised attacking football that became a hallmark of his teams.

However, it would be incorrect to assume that Guardiola’s approach restricted his players’ creativity from the moment they joined the Etihad Stadium.

Jeremy Doku, who arrived at Manchester City in the summer of 2023, quickly emerged as one of the Premier League’s most thrilling and unpredictable attacking prospects.

In a conversation with FourFourTwo, Doku reflected on his time under Guardiola, saying, “I don’t remember Pep telling me before a game, ‘Jeremy, when you have the ball, do this and do that.’” When asked if his former manager’s methods ever limited his natural style, the Belgian winger emphasised that Guardiola encouraged individuality.

“He’d tell us where the spaces are, but he signed every player for the qualities they bring – Rayan Cherki for one thing, and Erling Haaland for another,” Doku explained.

He added, “Omar Marmoush’s strength is his finishing, so he should shoot. Cherki has many qualities, so he should use them all! [Abdukodir] Khusanov’s main asset is his speed, so he should run fast. Use your strengths – that’s why you’re here.”

Some analysts have speculated that Jack Grealish’s struggles to consistently replicate his Aston Villa form after his £100 million move to City were due to a lack of freedom in Guardiola’s system. Doku, however, dismissed that idea.

“Pep has given me a lot of freedom,” Doku continued. “He also explained the tactical aspects of defending, and when I have the ball – with my pace and explosiveness – he told me that during the final pass or movement, I need to take a breath, not go at full intensity, and stay calm at the end of the action so I can make the best decision.”

“He’s taught me that, and I feel like I’ve started to see the results of it.”

Since completing his £55 million transfer from Rennes shortly after Manchester City’s 2022/23 treble-winning season, Doku has made 133 appearances, netting 20 goals and providing 34 assists for the club.

He was part of the Premier League-winning squad in his debut season and now heads into the World Cup as one of Belgium’s key players, continuing to benefit from the lessons learned under Guardiola’s guidance.

“I’ve improved my decision-making and awareness on the ball, learning when to act and when to wait,” Doku concluded.

— Chris Flanagan, Senior Staff Writer