‘I’m sorry’- Pep Guardiola admit regret to ‘incredible’ player after dropping Man City winger to the bench
Pep Guardiola has openly acknowledged that he has been “so unfair” to Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku, admitting regret over the Belgian’s limited game time in recent weeks. The City manager took full responsibility for Doku’s recent absence from the starting eleven and publicly apologised after the young winger made a significant impact during City’s win at Goodison Park.
In recent matches, Guardiola has opted for a more compact, possession-oriented tactical approach, a shift that began following the March international break. This new strategy has seen the Spaniard rely less on traditional wingers like Doku, instead deploying full-backs in wide areas and overloading central midfield with technically proficient players. Rising star Savinho has also been favoured in wide roles, contributing further to Doku’s reduced minutes.
Despite his lack of playing time, Doku made a big statement with a dynamic performance against Everton. His explosive pace, directness, and creativity added a new dimension to City’s attack, leading Guardiola to heap praise on him post-match.
“I’ve been so unfair with him in the last games,” Guardiola admitted during his post-match press conference. “I think back to matches like Spurs away and Brighton – without Jeremy, those wins wouldn’t have been possible. But recently, our style has changed. We haven’t played with natural wingers. We’ve pushed our full-backs wide and packed the middle with midfielders, like we did against Bournemouth. That’s the only reason. I feel really sorry for him – and for some of the other players affected by this tactical decision.”
Guardiola went on to contrast Doku’s performance at Goodison Park with a less effective outing at Old Trafford, suggesting that the winger’s most recent display had far exceeded expectations.
“Today, the impact was far better than what we saw at Old Trafford. His ability to take defenders on, to stretch the pitch, to get to the byline – it’s exceptional,” Guardiola continued. “Jeremy in the final third is just unstoppable. He’s an incredible, incredible footballer. I’m really happy with the way he played today.”
With a pivotal Premier League showdown against Aston Villa looming on Tuesday, Guardiola’s public expression of remorse and renewed admiration for Doku could signal a change in selection going forward. The Belgian winger, who has had to bide his time on the sidelines, will now be hoping that his performance has done enough to earn him a return to the starting XI.
As City continue their push for the Premier League title, Doku’s energy and unpredictability may prove vital – especially with Guardiola recognising just how much of a difference he can make when unleashed.
