Jeremy Doku can compete with Lamine Yamal and Vinicius Jr, says Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that Jeremy Doku has the potential of competing with world-class talents such as Lamine Yamal and Vinicius Jr.

Doku is in flying form for the Blues and scored three Premier League goals last week – a stunning 90+7th minute leveller in a 3-3 draw against Everton and the opener in Manchester City‘s 3-0 win over Brentford.

City have seen the likes of Doku, January signing Antoine Semenyo and summer arrival Rayan Cherki assume greater responsibility in the final third in 2026, alleviating the goalscoring burden on number nine Erling Haaland.

The Blues remain in pursuit of a domestic treble in the final weeks of the season, with Doku turbo-charging Guardiola and co to remain on Arsenal‘s heels in the Premier League title race with the best spell of form the Belgian has enjoyed at the Etihad Stadium since joining from Rennes in 2023.

Guardiola: It all depends on Doku’s mentality

Speaking in a press conference after City’s 3-0 win over Brentford on Saturday, Guardiola credited the recent upturn in Doku’s end product to the Belgium international’s mentality and willingness to challenge his own self.

“Always he accepts being pushed, and that is so nice! We are really pleased, but not just now, since he arrived,” Guardiola said on the 23-year-old. “Now he’s winning games, goals obviously, but always he has been really, really good.

“What it depends on is your mentality saying, ‘I want to become one of the best wingers in the world!’ Otherwise you’re in your comfort zone saying, ‘No, it’s fine, it’s fine!’

“Always Jeremy has been dribbles, and work, and whatever. Always he tries! But (now) he says, ‘No, I want to become one of the best, or the best’. That is when you reach that level.”

What is next for Doku and Man City?

After Arsenal‘s hard-fought 1-0 win over West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday, City are five points adrift of the Gunners ahead of their game in hand against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

City must win their three remaining Premier League games and hope for an Arsenal slip-up in their final fixtures against Burnley and Crystal Palace to hijack what is increasingly looking like a first league crown for the north Londoners in 22 years.

Guardiola’s side will have the chance to revitalise their title charge with another shot at silverware this weekend as they face Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley, having lifted the Carabao Cup in the English capital in March after beating Arsenal in the final.

There is no margin for error for the Blues in the final two weeks of the season as they look to give departing stars Bernardo Silva and John Stones a fitting, trophy-laden send off ahead of what has all the makings of a busy transfer window at the Etihad Stadium.