Semenyo: I want the feeling of lifting trophies consistently

“I’m playing with world class players and they’ve made it easy to sink into the team.”

With the relentless pressure of seeking as many trophies as possible, Semenyo was tasked with hitting the ground running as a City player.

That’s no easy task when starting work with Pep Guardiola, whose demands of his players are unlike any other manager.

However, the winger had a seamless transition and made it clear just what an impact Guardiola is already having.

“He’s a genius, to be honest,” said Semenyo.

“He’s got so many ideas and as a player, I’ve had to think about so many things I would never normally think about.

“The first thing he said to me was “you’re fast right?”.

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“I said yeah and he asked why I go fast every time and told me to slow down to speed up. It’s a different approach against full backs that expect you to go fast every time.

“It’s little things like that take your game to the next level.”

Semenyo’s route to the top of English football was never straightforward.

Born in London, he attended trials at many of the capital’s biggest clubs during his early teenage years without much success.

After considering giving up the game at 15, he eventually went to South Gloucestershire and Stroud College and moved away from his parents and brother.

That opened the door for a professional career at Bristol City, with loans at Bath City, Newport County and Sunderland, before making the all-important step up to Bournemouth.

In fact, our man became just the second player ever to play non-league, all four professionals divisions in England and the Champions League when he was named in the starting lineup at Real Madrid in March.

Looking back now, he feels he’s benefitted from all the setbacks earlier in his life.

“I’ve had to grow up pretty quick,” he said.

“Being away from home from 16, it’s tough. I wasn’t working, just going to college, playing football and doing the bare minimum because I didn’t have much money to get around.

“But I love football so much and knew I was committed and thankfully, it’s brought me here.

“I think it can give me a bit more hunger and bite because I’ve had to work so hard to get here, I want to continue progressing and working hard and prove why I deserve to be here.

“My life has always been about proving myself and now it’s not over, I want to do more.”

The Ghana international is renowned for his two footedness, with defenders unable to guess whether he will shoot on his left or his right.

He says that ability was spotted early on by his family.

“In the house there was all little things on the floor and I’d always kick it with my right foot and then my left foot,” he said.

“My mum would wonder why I could kick it with both feet and my dad agreed it was a special talent but she didn’t understand.

“From Under-8s I was different and could use both my feet very well.”