The Champions League returned to the Etihad Stadium with a storm. Manchester City faced Napoli in their opening group-stage fixture, a game that was expected to showcase Guardiola’s men as the kings of Europe, but instead it became a night of mixed emotions. The story was not about Erling Haaland’s power, or Bernardo Silva’s elegance, or even Kevin De Bruyne’s emotional homecoming. The spotlight landed on one man: Jeremy Doku.
Doku came into this match with excitement surrounding his name. Since joining City, he had been seen as one of those young wingers with the raw pace and hunger to destroy defences. Fans expected fireworks. They expected a player who would torment Napoli’s defenders and put fear in Antonio Conte’s stubborn system. But in the first half, what they got instead was frustration, anger, and a performance that left thousands of City fans shaking their heads.
From the opening whistle, Doku looked nervous. Every time he touched the ball, groans echoed around the Etihad. He lost possession once, then twice, then three times. The count rose quickly. By halftime, he had already lost the ball 13 times. For a team like Manchester City, built on control, possession, and precision, those numbers were shocking. Guardiola’s football is about keeping the ball, about suffocating the opponent by passing, pressing, and breaking them down. Yet here was Doku, misplacing passes, failing to beat his man, and often running into dead ends.
The fans were not kind. Social media exploded within minutes. One supporter cried out: *“Can someone tell Doku to look up!”* Another snapped back: *“Anyone still back Doku after that? That was horrible.”* The anger spread like wildfire.
Inside the stadium, frustration grew louder. Every misplaced touch brought whistles, groans, and even shouts telling him to “get off the pitch.” One fan posted angrily: *“Doku is really slow in this match. He should leave the pitch first of all.”* Another went further: *“Doku as always, people were gassing him up after that derby, but he’s just not good enough. Doku should go, man.”*
The anger was personal. Manchester City fans are used to seeing players like Riyad Mahrez, Leroy Sané, Raheem Sterling, and Jack Grealish deliver on the wings. They are used to efficiency, to wingers who know when to pass, when to cut inside, and when to release the ball. But Doku seemed stuck. He was dribbling with his head down, unable to find teammates, unable to provide a decent cross. Fans screamed in frustration: *“Doku cannot cross to save his life!”*
On the touchline, Pep Guardiola could not hide his anger. He screamed instructions, waved his arms, and even shouted directly at Doku during one stoppage. But the winger’s confidence looked shattered. Instead of growing, he shrank under the pressure.
Napoli were down to 10 men after an early red card, yet City struggled to take advantage in the first half. Their attacks broke down again and again, often at Doku’s feet. One supporter tweeted in disbelief: *“How is this still 0-0? We are playing well but wasting so much. Would like to see Doku actually cross the ball.”*
The Etihad was boiling with tension. Manchester City fans are spoiled by brilliance, but what they saw in that first half was anything but. Some even compared it to a betrayal. They felt Doku had been hyped too much. They had seen moments of promise in previous games, especially in the derby against Manchester United, but here against Napoli, he looked completely out of his depth. One furious supporter snapped: *“I’m just not having Doku. Just can’t do it.”*
At halftime, Guardiola faced a big decision. Does he take Doku off and avoid further embarrassment, or does he trust him to bounce back? The Catalan is known for protecting his players, for giving them a chance to redeem themselves. He did exactly that. Doku came back on for the second half, but the atmosphere was tense.
Then came the twist. Against the tide of anger and frustration, Doku found redemption. In the 54th minute, the Belgian winger finally broke Napoli’s resistance. He received the ball in space, cut inside, and fired past the keeper. The Etihad erupted—not in full joy, but in relief. His goal changed the game, swinging momentum firmly in City’s favor.
It was the kind of goal that saves reputations, at least for the night. The same fans who booed his first-half performance now cheered. But still, many remained unconvinced. Some fans admitted the goal had saved him, but nothing more. The statistics told the full story: 13 times losing the ball, only 6 of 11 ground duels won, and inconsistent defensive work. The goal was important, but it was a bandage over a deep wound.
By the 69th minute, Guardiola had seen enough. Doku was substituted, his job done but his night still under heavy debate. Some said Pep had planned it all along, knowing the Belgian was struggling. Others felt the goal had delayed his exit by only a few minutes. Either way, Doku walked off the pitch with a strange mix of relief and shame.
Manchester City went on to win 2-0, a strong start to their Champions League campaign, but the story remained about Jeremy Doku. For many fans, his goal was not enough to erase the first-half disaster. One supporter tweeted bluntly: *“Doku being useless again when he’s needed.”* Another concluded harshly: *“Doku should go.”*
This is the life of a footballer at the highest level. One half of poor football can turn fans against you. One goal can save you temporarily, but the questions don’t go away. For Doku, this game was a warning. He may have scored, but the fans will remember the 13 losses of possession, the sloppy decision-making, and the lack of composure.
In the days to come, debates will rage. Is Doku good enough for Manchester City? Can Guardiola turn him into a consistent winger, or will he remain a player of flashes—brilliant one moment, careless the next?
Doku’s story is now at a crossroads. At 23 years old, he has time on his side. He has pace, energy, and the raw tools. But City demand more than potential. They demand consistency, intelligence, and the ability to perform under pressure. Against Napoli, Doku learned a hard lesson: scoring a goal can save your night, but not your reputation.
For the fans, the anger lingers. For Guardiola, the patience may run thin. And for Doku, the next game could decide whether he is forgiven or forgotten.
