“Just play your game”: Semenyo reveals Guardiola’s key message at City
55Antoine Semenyo said Pep Guardiola’s advice helped him adapt quickly to Manchester City after his January move from Bournemouth.
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Quick impact on the Etihad
Antoine Semenyo has enjoyed an impressive start to life at Manchester City, scoring six goals since joining the club from Bournemouth in January.
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, the 26-year-old explained how he adapted so quickly to the new environment, going from mid-table to a title race.
According to Semenyo, the key was the clear and simple message from City manager Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola’s advice gave confidence
Semenyo revealed that Guardiola told him to continue playing his natural game. The City coach encouraged him to express himself, shoot, dribble and play freely, without changing his style to adapt to the team.
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The striker said this approach boosted his confidence as he felt confident from day one.
Guardiola made it clear that while City are a possession-based team, there will always be moments for Semenyo to show his individual quality.
Learning a new way to attack
Semenyo also spoke about how Guardiola’s tactical ideas helped him improve. He explained that City’s system focuses on moving defenders and midfielders out of position to create space.
These details that you hadn’t always thought about before are now part of your game.
Semenyo added that adapting to the system was important and that his teammates made the transition easier by providing constant support and guidance on the field.
New challenges and great moments
Life at Manchester City has brought new experiences to Semenyo. Just 26 days after joining, he reached his first cup final, something he described as a dream moment in his career.
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He admitted that facing important teams like Arsenal in the final is what every footballer hopes for. However, he stressed that the hard work must continue as City continue to compete on several fronts this season.
Focus on the clash with Liverpool
Attention now turns to the important Premier League match against Liverpool at Anfield. Semenyo called the match a “statement match” and one of the most important games of the season for City.
Having scored at Anfield earlier in the campaign for Bournemouth, he said he is excited to feel the atmosphere again and describes these games as special and full of intensity.
In addition to his strong start at Manchester City, Semenyo recently named himself in their Premier League “Team of the Season So Far” alongside the likes of Declan Rice, Moisés Caicedo, Erling Haaland, Mykhailo Doku and Rayan Cherki.
Hunger for success
Semenyo believes Manchester City must rediscover the hunger that defined their most successful seasons.
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He said Guardiola has reminded the team that they must play with fire and determination, especially after mixed results in recent matches.
The forward made it clear that his goals are not just personal records. He wants trophies and believes City can still fight on all fronts if the team maintains the right mentality.