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Manchestereveningnews 1yr ago
Doku may lose City starting spot to avoid Guardiola's United concern
Source:Manchestereveningnews

It's been Jeremy Doku-mania at Manchester City this season.

The winger has made an excellent start to his City career but has made an even stronger impression on the crowd than his actual contributions across all of his appearances may warrant.

It's hardly surprising given how exhilarating he has been in some of his better performances.

For years Pep Guardiola has transitioned his side away from exciting wingers who always move forward and look to beat their man in favour of a more conservative, risk-adverse approach.

In contrast, Doku has been a well-received throw-back to Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling's best days at City with his old-school wing play.

Individualism and creative flair have largely been coached out of most top-tier teams as collective tactical systems and pressing plans have become the best way to success but they may just be making a comeback.

Doku is at the spearhead of the revolution.

The brilliant Belgian is the type of player that generates a buzz of electricity whenever he gets the ball, a sense of anticipation to what he will do next.

Will he bamboozle his defender with skill or tear away with pace? Will he cross, will he shoot? Will he go back to beat the defender again? James Milner had to face all those questions at an extraordinary rate during the first half of the win at Brighton and was left so utterly dazed he didn't emerge for the second half.

Doku brings excitement and thrills which has immediately enamoured him to the fan base.

But the downside to such a direct, attack-minded winger is that they take risks and the more risks you take the more chances are that you will lose the ball.

For Guardiola, maintaining possession and therefore control of matches is the most crucial thing.

In the recent defeat to Wolves, City had none of it and thus were completely unrecognisable in their performance as they were stretched and panicked.

It became chaotic and a team that is starting to thrive of chaos is Manchester United.

Erik ten Hag's side have had a dreadful start to the campaign but are now finally managing to string results together, having picked up three wins on the spin.

While none of them were convincing, they were all galvanising.

Dramatic wins with comebacks and late drama, the sort of wins that fray the nerves but give immense emotion boosts afterwards.

Chaotic wins with little rhyme or reason.

As Guardiola said himself ahead of Sunday's first Manchester derby of the season, it doesn't matter if United are the worst team in the game, they have the capability to damage opponents.

Usually in rapid passages of chaos.

"They are always dangerous.

It doesn't matter the managers - and I have seen a few - they are always a tough opponent with the quality of the individual, the character, the momentum," he said.

"They have the ability not to be on top and then just score goals.

We know their quality, no doubts about that.

"It is in these passages of play, where the wins of momentum are blowing a gale in the opposition's favour, that City can often crumble in matches.

So they will have to be avoided at Old Trafford.

The Manchester derby is a hectic fixture at normal times but emotions will only be heightened this time around as United continue to pay tribute to the late Sir Bobby Charlton.

City will have to go into the game with their heads on firmly and not get swept up in the occasion.

They will need as many of their players who are great at keeping the ball and exerting control as possible.

As a result, Doku may well have to wait for his first taste of the famous fixture.

Jack Grealish hasn't had a great start to the campaign and has come in for criticism in comparison to Doku's verve.

But Grealish brings a very different skillset to the side and is just what City will need to pour cold water on what will be a flaming atmosphere.

Doku is taking City by storm and only going to get better, but Guardiola's chief concern about United means he may well lose his starting spot at Old Trafford.

The transfer window has been a hectic one and City have been busy, with high-profile signings and sales aplenty.

City snapped up Croatian pair Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol from Chelsea and RB Leipzig respectively with the latest addition being Jeremy Doku.

Wolves' Matheus Nunes then joined the Blues on deadline day.

In terms of outgoings, Treble winner Ilkay Gundogan departed for Barcelona, Aymeric Laporte and Riyad Mahrez moved to Saudi Arabia, and Cole Palmer completed a shock move to Chelsea.

Our team of City experts will be on top of all the goings-on at the Etihad across deadline day and beyond, and you can get the latest updates and inside information to your phone by joining our new free WhatsApp community below.

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