Ilkay Gundogan has praised Manchester City teammate Jeremy Doku for his decisive contribution in their 2-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park.
Doku, who is of Ghanaian heritage, played a pivotal role in the build-up to City’s second goal.
His dynamic play on the wing created space and opportunities, culminating in Mateo Kovacic’s late strike that sealed the win.
Gundogan emphasized the importance of impactful substitutions in the Premier League.
“It is crucial, especially in a high competitive league like the Premier League is right now, having players coming from the bench that can leave an impact is crucial.
“Savinho has done really well in the second half as well, and then having a replacement like Jeremy for him, I don’t think it can really get much better in terms of making the right impact at the right time. He has done that.”
He further highlighted Doku’s ability to draw defenders and create space for teammates.
“He’s really strong in keeping the ball in one on ones offensively, and gives us a breather. He can go into the box and attract two or three opponents, which makes more space for other players, like he did with the second goal, he gave me the ball and I was able to set it for Kova. This is the quality that we need at the end of the day.”
The victory lifts Manchester City back into the Premier League’s top four, bolstering their bid for Champions League qualification.
Gundogan acknowledged the team’s recent form and the importance of maintaining momentum.
“Everyone has been doing really well since the international break in March. We need to stay on top of our game for the rest of the season because we definitely need to qualify for the Champions League.”
