Pep Guardiola Drops Honest Verdict on Antoine Semenyo After His First Premier League Goal
- Pep Guardiola has given an honest assessment of Antoine Semenyo after the Ghanaian forward netted his first Premier League goal for Manchester City
- The former Bournemouth standout found the scoresheet as the Cityzens eased past struggling Wolves, bouncing back from successive defeats
- Semenyo’s next test comes away in North London, where he and his teammates face a Tottenham Hotspur side without Mohammed Kudus
- The 26-year-old's consistency is expected to help him survive in Pep Guardiola's demanding system, according to a football historian and statistician
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Antoine Semenyo earned glowing praise from Pep Guardiola after opening his Premier League account for Manchester City in a win that steadied the sky blues after a difficult week.
The Ghanaian forward marked his return to the starting side with a confident display that underlined his growing influence at the Etihad.
Source: Getty Images
City had suffered back-to-back defeats against Manchester United and Bodo/Glimt, with Semenyo watching the European loss from the sidelines due to registration rules.
Once eligible again for league duty, Guardiola wasted little time restoring him to the lineup.
Semenyo nets first EPL goal for Man City
From the opening stages against Wolves, the 26-year-old looked sharp. Inside ten minutes, he had already tested Jose Sa with a driven effort that forced the goalkeeper into action. That early warning set the tone.
After Omar Marmoush gave City the lead, Semenyo delivered his defining moment just before the interval, Reuters reports.
Bernardo Silva slipped a clever pass into his path, and one touch was all he needed to escape his marker.
The finish was calm and precise, guided low into the corner to double the advantage in the first half added time.
Watch Semenyo's goal:
He came close to adding another after the break when Phil Foden picked him out, only for the crossbar to deny him a brace.
Still, the performance spoke volumes about his confidence and sharpness in front of goal.
Source: Getty Images
Guardiola reacts to Semenyo's impact
The display caught the eye of Guardiola, who was quick to highlight what the forward has brought to his side.
Speaking after the match, the City manager focused on energy, movement and decision making.
"Antoine [Semenyo] came with incredible energy - and you know the numbers, strikers are a question of numbers," he said as quoted by City Report on X.
"Since he arrived, Antoine has been unbelievable! He made a good goal, it looks easy, but the control is perfect - pass the ball into the net.
"He made another chance with an excellent pass from Marc [Guehi]. He had another chance with the crossbar."
Since arriving from AFC Bournemouth in January, Semenyo has settled fast. In four outings, he has already contributed three goals and one assist, showing he can thrive within a crowded attacking group.
Across the league season, he now has 11 goals, with only Igor Thiago and teammate Erling Haaland ahead in the scoring charts, according to BBC Sport.
Semenyo is growing in consistency
Semenyo’s numbers point to a player growing in confidence and consistency, and Awal Mohammed Hudu, a football historian and statistician with Kessben Media, highlighted this in a conversation with YEN.com.gh:
“Four goal contributions in four matches is no small feat. While he has scored against teams like Exeter, Newcastle United and now Wolves, with all due respect to those sides, it underlines the mindset of a player ready to take on whatever is put in front of him.
"That level of consistency is something many Ghanaian players in Europe struggle to maintain. My prayer is that he continues without interruption.
“In a squad that boasts the likes of Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Omar Marmoush and Bernardo Silva, not forgetting Savinho and Jeremy Doku, competition for places is fierce.
"The only way to survive under Pep Guardiola is to offer more than pressing and positional awareness. You need numbers to back it up, and Semenyo is doing exactly that. Being City’s second top scorer speaks volumes about what he brings to the table.”
Man City hail Semenyo in four words
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Manchester City sent a four-word message to rival clubs after Antoine Semenyo scored against Wolves.
The club celebrated the breakthrough on X shortly after the goal.
Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
