Guardiola hails Jeremy Doku rise as Man City focus on Premier League title push

Guardiola hails Jeremy Doku’s impact as Manchester City gear up for Brentford test in tight title race

Pep Guardiola has been quick to highlight Jeremy Doku’s growing influence at Manchester City, with the winger’s recent form arriving at exactly the right time as the Premier League season heads into its decisive stretch.

City return to league action against Brentford, and with the title race still finely balanced, Guardiola’s side know there is very little margin for error from here on in.

Doku’s rise giving City another attacking edge

If there has been one player who has steadily added something different to City’s attacking play this season, it’s Doku.

The Belgian has brought a level of directness that naturally stretches defences, and the numbers back up his growing importance, seven goals and 14 assists across 42 appearances in all competitions.

More than the raw output, though, it’s the way he unsettles full-backs that has stood out. There’s a certain unpredictability to his game; one moment he’s checking inside, the next he’s gone past his marker before they’ve even set themselves.

Guardiola, speaking ahead of the Brentford game, didn’t hide his satisfaction with how the winger has settled into life at the club although, in typical fashion, he couldn’t resist a bit of tongue-in-cheek humour when asked about it.

“The manager always” — Guardiola’s light-hearted take

There was a smile from the City boss when the subject of Doku’s development came up, and he leaned into the familiar footballing joke about who deserves credit when things are going well.

“Guardiola playfully told reporters that managers always take credit when players perform well, but when players do poorly, it’s their own fault.

“After this lighthearted comment, he quickly became serious to give his honest opinion on the winger’s progress.

“He expressed how happy he was that the player had improved so much and was making a real impact, especially when facing opponents one-on-one.

“Guardiola added that it wasn’t just his goals and assists, but also his ongoing effort in defense. He finished by saying Jeremy had been excellent this season.

That defensive point is one Guardiola always comes back to, and with Doku, it’s become a key part of why he continues to feature so regularly. It’s not just about what he does on the ball — it’s the work without it that keeps him trusted in the system.

Brentford test and the bigger picture

City’s immediate focus now turns to Brentford, a side Guardiola made clear deserve respect for the consistency they’ve shown this season, particularly in the way they’ve managed a difficult campaign following changes in leadership.

“So good,” he said when assessing their campaign. “Not easy to replace Thomas Frank so an incredible season. It is clear what they do and it is difficult to challenge them but at the same time, three games left and we go for it.”

There’s no disguising where City are at this stage of the season, it’s win and apply pressure, or risk slipping further behind in a tight race.

Arsenal still setting the pace

At the top of the table, Arsenal remain in control of the title picture, with a five-point cushion over City as the run-in reaches its final phase.

Guardiola didn’t try to dress up the situation. Instead, he pointed to the importance of simply doing their part and forcing the issue as long as mathematically possible.

“It has been a long time since the Arsenal game. I love to play at home hopefully we can put pressure on Arsenal. Win our games and do what we have to do.”

It’s straightforward, almost deliberately so no dramatic statements, just a reminder that City’s route back into contention depends entirely on consistency from here.

Where Doku fits into the final stretch

For City, players like Doku could end up being decisive in moments where tight games need unlocking. His ability to beat a man one-on-one has already added a different dimension to their attack, and in matches where structure dominates, that bit of unpredictability can matter more than most tactical tweaks.

Guardiola clearly sees him as more than just a flair option. The balance between attacking output and defensive responsibility is what has kept him involved in key fixtures, especially as City try to manage the intensity of a season that still has everything to play for.

A season-defining run-in

With just four matches remaining, City know the situation is simple: there is no more room for hesitation. Every performance now carries weight, every dropped point potentially decisive.

Brentford away is just the next step in that chain, but it comes with the familiar Premier League warning label, nothing is straightforward at this stage of the season, regardless of reputation or form.

For Guardiola, though, the focus remains on execution rather than noise. Keep winning, keep applying pressure, and see where it leads.

And somewhere in that mix, Doku’s direct running might just end up being one of the key ingredients.