Vincent Kompany issues clear advice to Jeremy Doku in special video message | OneFootball

Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku has received clear words of advice from his former head coach and ex-Premier League defender, Vincent Kompany.

Doku, signed from Rennes for £55.5 million in 2023, enjoyed a strong start to life at the Etihad Stadium and was pivotal in the Blues’ 2023-24 Premier League title triumph – marking the final game of the season with a brilliant assist for Phil Foden.

The 23-year-old is yet to find his feet in terms of end product as he develops further and finds his feet under Pep Guardiola, having been in and out of the Manchester City starting XI over the course of the recent campaign, wherein he scored eight times and provided nine assists in 41 appearances across all competitions.

The arrivals of Savinho, Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki will only increase competition for minutes in the wide attacking positions for Doku next season, with the Belgium international eyeing a breakthrough campaign as Manchester City look to win a fifth Premier League title in six seasons and challenge for the UEFA Champions League.

With a blistering burst of speed and a second-to-none ability to drop a shoulder and turn his defender inside out, Doku was criticised for his decision making in the final third last season as Manchester City fans on social media were left frustrated with how little the forward was harnessing his full potential.

However, the ship seemed to turn in the second half of the 2024-25 campaign as Manchester City struggled with injuries and were crying out for creative inspiration to drive a push for a top-four Premier League finish in the absence of then-injured Kevin De Bruyne.

Doku was given a new lease of life by Guardiola and went on a fine run of individual displays, with a significant injury-time run and assist for Matheus Nunes to clinch a monumental 2-1 win for City against Aston Villa in April to boost their hopes of a top-four finish.

Speaking in the debut episode of Doku’s brand new YouTube docu-series, former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany had a special video message that was played to the winger upon his return to RSC Anderlecht’s home stadium.

“What stood out to me, Jeremy, was your one-v-one dribbles and just always, always the desire to beat your man, to always try and go forward, to attack, to do what the fans like, and it’s to come to watch a game and players that have creativity and that are brave,” said Kompany.

The former Manchester City captain and Premier League legend added, “And you did that from the age of 16 already, since I saw you the first time.”

Asked for a message he would have for Doku if he was present with him, Kompany responded, “Arrive at the back post to score the easy goals.

“You don’t always have to do 15 dribbles, or something unbelievable. Arrive in the right area, and score easy goals. And then the other things, they will always be there.”

Reacting to the message, the Belgium international forward said, “The last thing that he said is the thing that I hear every second. If you look at all my goals, since Anderlecht already, I don’t score easy goals. All my goals are like when I dribble. I don’t know, maybe I like it difficult.”