MANCHESTER CITY have unlocked a “cheat code” that is destroying Premier League defences.
A simple tactical tweak from manager Pep Guardiola is seeing new signing Jeremy Doku thrive on the left-wing.
The 21-year-old joined from Rennes in a £55million deal in the summer and he is already catching the eye with his stunning performances.
Doku registered four assists and one goal in the 6-1 hammering of Bournemouth yesterday as he ripped the Cherries to shreds.
It set a new record as he became the league’s youngest player to provide four assists and get five goal contributions in one match.
He has so far made 12 appearances for Man City and admitted he is already finding it “so easy” to create chances for his team-mates.
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The winger’s bursts of pace and trickery have been terrorising opponents and Guardiola is getting the best from him.
The gaffer has huge demands when it comes to a winger’s positioning with him wanting them to get one-on-one versus their full-back – and that is where Doku shows his magic.
He often pulls wide to receive the ball and slows down as he approaches the defender.
With his quick acceleration and ability to go either way, Doku leaves opponents in a tangle as he suddenly speeds up.
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He revealed he sometimes waits for the defender to gamble before using his agility to spring past.
Doku explained one of his assists versus Bournemouth, saying: “I didn’t know which side I was going to go, so I did a body movement and then depending on where the defender would go, I went the other way.”
The “cheat code” is then helped as the Belgian often has several players to pick out in the box.
His change of pace when approaching right-backs shows off his acceleration but also allows his team-mates to catch up with the attack and fill the penalty area.
Doku has the simple task of rolling the ball across the goal to world-class players waiting to smash home.
This is shown via Doku’s assist for Bernardo Silva’s first goal against Bournemouth.
He turns Chris Mepham inside out before rolling the ball into the path of the Portuguese midfielder to finish.
He did the same again later in the match to set up Phil Foden for his goal.
Bournemouth’s Max Aarons is wary that Doku could skip by him so backs off and gives him time to pick a pass to his team-mate in a position to shoot.
It was similar to the assist he grabbed against Brighton two weeks ago as he gave the Seagulls a torrid afternoon.
On that occasion, Doku skips beyond Pascal Gross and gets to the byline, where he pulls it back inside for Julian Alvarez to score.
If there is no option to pass, the skilful star may take the shot on himself.
West Ham’s Vladimir Coufal didn’t close Doku down and he punished him by bending an effort beyond Alphonse Areola in goal to inspire a comeback win.
With Kevin De Bruyne out injured, Doku has become Man City’s biggest creative force and he is nearly impossible to stop with their slick passing out to him.
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Fans love his one-on-one ability, a supporter said: “Doku is a cheat code how on Earth did we allow Pep to get his hands on him.”
Another added: “Doku a cheat code, man said the left-wing was too easy.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
