Jeremy Doku issues battle cry ahead of Man City’s Premier League season finale

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The draw meant Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal now have the Premier League title destiny in their own hands as City find themselves in the position of needing favours from other top-flight clubs if they are to reclaim their trophy on the final day of the season.

Yet, with a significant run of league fixtures on the horizon and a trip to Wembley just around the corner, Jeremy Doku is adamant that the changing room remains mentally strong for the final push.

“We are going to fight!” – Doku refuses to give up

Speaking to reporters after his individual masterclass on Merseyside, Jeremy Doku struck a remarkably defiant tone when assessing Manchester City’s outlook for the remaining run of Premier League fixtures.

“We did not give up, and we are not going to give up. There are still some games, we are going to fight until the end and at the end we will count the points. [We are] disappointed but it is not over, we are not going to give up,” he said.

“We are going to recover now, take the positives, take the negatives and work on it. There are a lot of games, we have a busy schedule, and we are going to look forward. We are still in two competitions, we have a final to play.”

Doku continued, “One point is better than nothing, we came for three points and it did not work out. In the first half we started well, created a lot of chances, in a lot of positions.

“We scored then in the second half they pushed more, we made some mistakes and they scored a couple of goals. It was difficult to come back. It’s still not over, we are going to focus on the next game and try to do our best.”

The Belgian added, “We are going to recover well. Mentally we have all been in this position, we are used to playing every three days. The most important thing is to recover mentally and physically. There are tough games to come but we are ready for it, we are looking forward.”

Can Manchester City still rise again?

Jeremy Doku’s emphasis on physical and mental recovery highlights the daunting workload facing Manchester City’s squad during an ongoing transition phase in their development under sporting director Hugo Viana.

With several veteran departures looming this summer – including Bernardo Silva and John Stones – Pep Guardiola has had to rely heavily on fresh faces with little top-level, trophy-winning experience to navigate an intense period.

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The immediate challenge is a home fixture against Brentford at the Etihad Stadium this Saturday evening, where Manchester City simply cannot afford another defensive lapse if they want to keep the pressure on Arsenal.

A further litmus test of the squad’s character will be how they balance their Premier League aspirations with the looming FA Cup Final against Chelsea on May 16, and should the rest of the squad match Doku’s outlook, energy and sharpness, the season could still end with a double-trophy parade, or even a domestic Treble.