Jeremy Doku Vows Manchester City Will Rebound After Champions League Disappointment
Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku has emphatically declared that the team will bounce back following their Champions League elimination, maintaining that their standards remain uncompromised despite a challenging week. The Belgian international's comments come as the club prepares for Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Arsenal, seeking immediate redemption after their European exit.
Aggregate Defeat to Real Madrid Ends European Campaign
City's Champions League journey concluded with a comprehensive 5-1 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid in the last-16 stage. Following a 3-0 first-leg loss at the Bernabeu, they fought valiantly but ultimately suffered a 2-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, playing most of the match with just ten men after captain Bernardo Silva's early red card.
This European setback, combined with a damaging Premier League draw at West Ham on Saturday, has left City nine points adrift of leaders Arsenal in the domestic title race. The consecutive disappointments mark one of the most frustrating periods in recent memory for the club, testing their resilience and championship mentality.
Doku Maintains Positive Outlook Despite Setbacks
Despite the recent disappointments, Doku maintains that team spirit remains intact and that there are positive elements to build upon. "We played well. We played well with 11 against 11 and 10 against 11. We created chances," the Belgian international stated. "I feel like if we play like that every game we'll put many teams in trouble. There are some good things to take out of this game to the next one."
Doku highlighted the decisive moment in Tuesday's Champions League tie, which came after just 20 minutes when Silva was sent off for handling a Vinicius Junior shot on the line. Vinicius converted the resulting penalty, and although Erling Haaland equalised and City registered an impressive 22 shots, they ultimately fell short, with Vinicius securing his second goal in stoppage time.
Focus Shifts to Remaining Trophy Opportunities
The winger emphasized that significant opportunities for silverware remain this season, pointing to the three competitions City are still contesting. "There's still a lot to play for. We're still in three competitions, three trophies to win. If we do that it's still going to be a great season," Doku affirmed. "Of course we're disappointed with the Champions League, it's always a nice trophy to have, but there are some lessons to take out of these two games."
Attention now shifts decisively to the Carabao Cup final, which Doku described as "a good cure" for their European woes. "We'll do everything to win that game and to win a trophy," he declared, highlighting the immediate opportunity for redemption at Wembley Stadium.
Unwavering Support for Captain Bernardo Silva
Doku expressed the squad's complete support for Silva following his controversial red card, acknowledging the Portuguese midfielder's personal disappointment while emphasizing his vital contribution to the team. "Obviously he's disappointed," Doku said. "Knowing him, I know he takes it very personally. But even after it, we stood there, we were in the game. He's disappointed but we're all there for him. We know his contribution to the team is massive."
The Belgian international concluded with a note of pride in the team's performance under difficult circumstances. "We can be proud of our performance. Playing against a big team like that, 10 against 11, and still performing like we did, still putting them into trouble. Not every team can do that."
As Manchester City regroups for their Carabao Cup final challenge, Doku's message is clear: the Champions League exit represents a setback, not a defining moment, with multiple trophies still within reach this season.
