Jeremy Doku shared how Manchester City players are staying focused within their “bubble,” ignoring outside criticism as they work to reignite their Premier League title challenge.
City lifted spirits at the Etihad Stadium with a confident 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday. This victory marked their first win since October and helped break a challenging streak of four straight Premier League losses and seven winless games across all competitions.
Doku, who scored the third goal in the match, emphasized the team’s mindset:
“At the end of the day, when things go well, people hype you up. When things go bad, they call you the worst,” he explained. “We don’t pay attention to that. We focus on ourselves in our bubble, knowing we are stronger together.”
He continued, “People can say whatever they want. We’re still in December. If they think it’s over, let them. We’ll take it one game at a time, try to win as much as we can, and see how things stand at the end.”
The win moved Manchester City to fourth place in the Premier League table, narrowing the gap to nine points behind league leaders Liverpool, who had a 3-3 draw with Newcastle earlier in the week.
The match also saw Kevin De Bruyne return to the starting lineup for the first time since September, following his recovery from injury. His impact was immediate and vital. De Bruyne set up Bernardo Silva’s early opener with a strong header, scored the second goal after brilliant teamwork with Doku, and helped drive the team forward.
Doku sealed the victory with a swift counterattack, scoring just before the hour mark.
“I’m really happy for Kevin,” Doku said. “Everyone knows his quality and how much we need him in form. He proved it again with a great goal and assist.”
City looks rejuvenated after recent defeats to Tottenham and Liverpool, and this performance offers a glimpse of their determination to fight for the title as the season progresses.
