Jérémy Doku: ‘If I add goals I can be the world’s best winger, for sure’

Manchester City’s Jérémy Doku (right) looks to shield the ball from Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold during their Champions League meeting in March. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

His desire to score more shows Doku’s clarity about his game. Of his pace, he says: “I’ve always been fast. My brother was fast, my dad, so it’s been in the family. I think [Abdukodir] Khusanov and I are the fastest in the squad. Over 15 metres, I back myself. But over maybe 40, he will win.”

Slot’s verdict on Doku came after he tore Liverpool apart in City’s 4-0 FA Cup victory this month, his break down the left instrumental in Erling Haaland’s hat-trick goal at the Etihad.

Another compliment came when Trent Alexander-Arnold appeared to mime Doku’s snake-hipped dribbling style as Real Madrid knocked City out of the Champions League in March. “I saw that video. It was a good battle against him,” he says.

“When I play now, most of the time there are two defenders on me, which is not a problem because that means another player is free. But I know one versus one, that’s my biggest quality.”

On Saturday he will hope to demonstrate that and propel City to a fourth consecutive FA Cup final. Should Pep Guardiola’s Premier League leaders knock out the Championship side, Doku wants a different outcome to the defeats by Crystal Palace and Manchester United in their past two finals.

Doku causes Cristhian Mosquera problems at the Etihad last Sunday. Photograph: Scott Heppell/Reuters

“They stay on your mind, but I try to not shift my attention to the things I don’t have. I’m grateful for what I’ve won already. So being in the semi-final, I want to go back to the final and win that trophy. Because I won a Carabao Cup, I won the Premier League, so I want to win the FA Cup as well.”

Does it make him more motivated to claim the Cup? “A bit yes, no. Even if we won those finals, I would be motivated. Like I’m motivated right now to win the Premier League. Although I already won a Prem, I’m still motivated because you always want to win. It’s never enough, I would say.”

The Carabao Cup triumph – the 2-0 defeat of Arsenal – came in March. On Wednesday, City ended the Gunners’ 200 consecutive days as the Premier League leaders with a 1-0 win at Burnley.

“We’ve already won a trophy and there’s still two trophies where we have everything in our hands. OK, we are out of the Champions League, but imagine we win those two trophies and have a domestic treble. So we’re happy. Nothing to complain about.”