The first of many – Antoine Semenyo after winning first trophy with Manchester City

Antoine Semenyo described his maiden major trophy as “the first of many” after helping Manchester City secure a 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the EFL Cup Final.

The Ghana international, who played a lively role throughout the contest, could not hide his delight after the final whistle, insisting the triumph marks only the beginning of what he hopes will be a decorated spell at the Etihad.

“First of many! I’m excited, I’m happy. And many more to come!” Semenyo said in his post-match interview, his voice reflecting both relief and ambition.

Despite the magnitude of the occasion, the forward revealed he approached the game with unusual calmness, trusting in the tactical discipline drilled into the side.

“[I felt] very chilled and relaxed [before the game]. It’s just another game for me. We had a game plan. And if you have the game plan right, you’ll win. We did that today. We’re proud and happy,” he explained.

Operating with freedom in attack, Semenyo proved a constant menace, taking on defenders and exploiting spaces as City imposed themselves, particularly after gaining a psychological edge in key duels.

“I have that freedom to do what I want, get at defenders, and cause problems. That’s what I did today,” he said. “As soon as he got booked, he was backing off a lot, so it gave me the opportunity to drive at him, cross and shoot.”

For a player experiencing his first taste of silverware, the moment carried deeper emotional weight than for many of his more decorated teammates.

“They’ve won so many trophies, so it feels like just another one for them, but for me it’s so personal. I’ve never won a trophy before. I give God all the glory,” he added.

Semenyo’s journey to this stage has been anything but straightforward, and he acknowledged the sense of destiny surrounding his rise.

“It feels like a fairytale if I’m honest. I feel like I have a lot more to show,” he noted, hinting at his desire to demonstrate his versatility across multiple attacking roles. “I want to play wide, as a nine, and show how versatile I am, and just help the team as much as I can.”

The 24-year-old also offered a reflective message shaped by his own career path, underlining patience and faith as key pillars of his progress.

“God’s got a plan. It might not work out, and you might not know why. But the answer always reveals itself later on,” he said.

Surrounded by seasoned winners, Semenyo credited the experience within the City dressing room for helping him settle on the big stage.

“It’s not intimidating. Everyone has experience, and they keep the ones who are new calm and level-headed. Like today, we had a game plan and did everything right and were victorious.”

For Semenyo, this was more than just a medal—it was a statement of arrival, and perhaps, as he boldly declared, the first chapter in a much longer story.