Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola left the Bernabéu praising Jeremy Doku’s performance against Real Madrid and compared the Belgian to his Brazilian teammate Savinho.
Though not every final delivery found its mark, Doku repeatedly forced Madrid backwards, unsettling their back line with the kind of direct running that has become his trademark.
City’s win owed much to their composure and depth, but Guardiola made clear that Jeremy Doku‘s performance against Real Madrid in tight attacking areas was a decisive part of the night’s momentum.
What he offers, Guardiola suggested, is an ability to break open defensive structures in a way few others can — provided his teammates give him the platform to receive the ball close enough to do real damage.
He, however, declared that Savinho is better than the Belgian winger when he received the ball 40 metres from the opposite box.
Despite that claim, Guardiola championed Doku’s explosiveness, and his latest review of the Belgian’s display was particularly glowing.
The manager highlighted the winger’s unmatched burst in the smallest pockets of space and reiterated that while the final product is still evolving, his threat within the first few strides is almost uncontainable.
“He’s a player in the first five metres, I’ve never seen anything like that,” Guardiola said with visible admiration. The message was clear: City know how to use him, and when they do, opponents feel the consequences.
At the Bernabéu, that threat was evident early. Each time Doku received the ball on the edge of the Real box, the home crowd leaned forward in unease.
The angles he creates, the subtle shifts of balance, the defenders he pulls out of shape — these are the traits Guardiola believes can tilt a European tie.
Even in moments when he did not directly create a chance, he altered Madrid’s organisation, and City capitalised on that disruption.
Guardiola explained that Doku thrives when the ball reaches him in advanced areas rather than during longer build-ups from deep.
In transitional phases or when attacking space over 40 metres, City have another specialist: Savinho, the Brazilian whose cameo late in the game caught the eye.
“In 40 metres, Savinho is better,” Guardiola said after the match, noting the difference in profile between the two wingers. But positioned around the penalty area, he insisted, Doku becomes devastating: “If we are able to bring him [Doku] to the end he will kill you.”
The manager’s instruction to Doku, before sending him on, was as simple as it was bold. Asked what he had told the Belgian to do, Guardiola recalled: “To dribble. To dribble like Vinicius.”
In a stadium where Vinícius Júnior has built a reputation for ripping open games by sheer force of personality, Guardiola challenged Doku to impose himself in the same way — and the winger did just that.
Jeremy Doku’s performance against Real Madrid and his most impressive development, according to his manager, is his improving understanding of the angled passes and disguised movements that shape City’s approach around the box.
“He’s reading the inner passes a lot better,” Guardiola said. For a team operating on rhythm and complexity, that tactical growth is vital. Guardiola added pointedly that beating Real Madrid would have been “much more difficult” without Doku’s presence.
Savinho’s role in the victory also drew praise. Introduced as Madrid chased the match, the Brazilian’s energy and directness suited the open spaces left behind by the hosts.
His ability to stretch the pitch and carry the ball over distance gave City a fresh outlet at a crucial stage.
O’Reilly’s breakthrough moment adds to City’s encouraging night
City’s accomplished performance in Spain was not solely about their attacking threats out wide. It also featured a significant milestone for Nico O’Reilly, the young left-back who scored his first Champions League goal and displayed the assurance of a player growing in stature with every appearance.
In a fixture often defined by experience and composure, O’Reilly brought both. He defended aggressively, carried the ball confidently, and showed a maturity that belied his age.
Guardiola, who rarely gives praise lightly when it comes to defensive reliability, did not hold back.
“He’s top. Right now he’s the left-back for England,” he declared — a statement that reflects both the teenager’s progress and the trust City have placed in him.
- Gerrard blasts ‘Most Stupid’ decision as Man City beat Real Madrid at the Bernabéu
- Real Madrid 1-2 Man City: Haaland admits major disappointment despite victory
O’Reilly’s pace, intelligence and assertiveness stood out. What Guardiola valued most, however, was the young defender’s willingness to recover from mistakes without retreating into caution.
“He have incredible pace, so intelligent, make a mistake but he tried and that is top,” Guardiola said.
The manager emphasised that bravery, rather than perfection, is what defines City’s standards at this level.
“Sometimes you make a mistake because you don’t have courage,” he added, contrasting the fear of error with O’Reilly’s readiness to take responsibility.
The Champions League, especially at the Bernabéu, has humbled countless players over the years. But O’Reilly embraced the challenge, responding to pressure with energy rather than hesitation.