Manchester City forward Jeremy Doku believes Sunday’s Carabao Cup final offers the perfect opportunity for his side to reset their season, describing the occasion as a timely remedy following a difficult run of results.
Pep Guardiola’s men arrive at Wembley under pressure after a frustrating spell, most recently exiting the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid.
City fell 2-1 in their latest encounter with the Spanish giants, a result that followed a heavy defeat in the first leg and confirmed their elimination from the competition.
The setback extended a worrying sequence, with the Sky Blues managing just one win in their last five outings across all competitions.
Their next assignment, however, carries major significance. A meeting with Arsenal in a domestic final provides both a chance for silverware and an opportunity to regain confidence.
The London side, who recently strengthened their grip at the top of the Premier League, represent a formidable test, but also a chance for redemption.
Doku did not shy away from the magnitude of the occasion, framing the Wembley clash as a turning point for his team. “It’s a good cure,” he said, suggesting that lifting a trophy could quickly change the mood within the squad.
While City’s recent struggles have raised questions about momentum at a crucial stage of the campaign, Doku remains focused on the immediate task. The Belgian winger emphasised the importance of approach and mentality as his side prepares for a demanding stretch of fixtures.
“We’ll do everything to win that game and to win a trophy. The next four games are very important. We now have to recover for Sunday and go game by game,” he added.
With multiple competitions still in play, City’s season is far from defined. The Carabao Cup final is followed by a series of high-profile matches, including a domestic cup tie against Liverpool, as well as league encounters with Chelsea and another meeting with Arsenal.
Each fixture carries weight, not only in terms of results but also in shaping the narrative of their campaign.
City reflect on European exit and look ahead
Despite the disappointment of their European exit, Doku insisted there is still much to fight for. The winger pointed to the broader picture, highlighting that success in the remaining competitions could yet define the season in positive terms.
“There’s still a lot to play for,” the 23-year-old added. “We’re still in three competitions, three trophies to win. If we do that it’s still going to be a great season.
“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 [against Real]. We have to recover well and we’re looking forward to the next games that we have.”
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“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,” he said.
The winger pointed to the team’s ability to create chances and compete despite the numerical disadvantage, suggesting that such displays should provide encouragement ahead of their next fixtures.
“Unfortunately we didn’t win but we can look each other in the eye and be proud of each other. We played well. We played well 11 against 11 and 10 against 11. We created chances.
“I feel like if we play like that every game you’ll put many teams in trouble. Some good things to take out of this game to the next one.”
Meanwhile, the Carabao Cup final offers immediate stakes, with a trophy on the line and a chance to halt Arsenal’s recent dominance over the title race narrative.
