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Antoine Semenyo has enjoyed the best season of his career. The Ghanaian has hit the ground running since making the January transfer window move from Bournemouth to Manchester City, registering six goal contributions in nine Premier League outings for his new side.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester City at London Stadium on March 14, 2026 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Izzy Poles - AMA/Getty Images)
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City spent £64m to sign Semenyo and that already looks like being a good investment in a player who is still improving. And yet Pep Guardiola’s use of the 26-year-old has limited his team recently, as demonstrated by the lacklustre performances in back-to-back matches against Real Madrid and West Ham.
Effectively, Manchester City’s Premier League and Champions League campaigns might have come to an end last week. It’s difficult to envisage City clawing back the difference on Arsenal at the top of the table or winning the second leg against Real Madrid by four clear goals to make the Champions League’s next round.
It wasn’t so long ago that City looked to have built some serious momentum. Indeed, the Etihad Stadium side won six matches in-a-row in all competitions last month as they put up a strong fight on all fronts for silverware. Since then, though, Guardiola has adopted a new tactical approach that hasn’t worked.
This approach has deployed Semenyo in a more central role to the one he impressed in for Bournemouth. Guardiola has used the Ghanaian alongisde Erling Haaland as a secondary forward or as a roaming attacking midfielder in a 4-2-2-2 shape that sees Manchester City clog the centre of the field.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 04: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, interacts with Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest at Etihad Stadium on March 04, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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The problem, however, is that this role doesn’t get Semenyo into open space. That’s where the 26-year-old is most effective, as he demonstrated in a number of eye-catching performances for Bournemouth when Andoni Iraola built his quick-transition style of play around the natural threat of Semenyo on the break.
Guardiola clearly saw Semenyo as more than just a player to knife through opponents in quick transition, and with good reason. The Ghanaian is comfortable with both feet, can change directly swiftly and is as good at creating as he is finishing. In many ways, he’s a perfect fit for Manchester City.
And yet Guardiola is being accused of limiting Semenyo in the same way he did Jack Grealish. He too was a mercurial wide player who was at his best when he could make quick decisions in the final third. Semenyo’s addition made City’s squad stronger, but his specific deployment by Guardiola might be making them weaker.
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LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester City at London Stadium on March 14, 2026 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Izzy Poles - AMA/Getty Images)
Getty Images
City spent £64m to sign Semenyo and that already looks like being a good investment in a player who is still improving. And yet Pep Guardiola’s use of the 26-year-old has limited his team recently, as demonstrated by the lacklustre performances in back-to-back matches against Real Madrid and West Ham.
Effectively, Manchester City’s Premier League and Champions League campaigns might have come to an end last week. It’s difficult to envisage City clawing back the difference on Arsenal at the top of the table or winning the second leg against Real Madrid by four clear goals to make the Champions League’s next round.
It wasn’t so long ago that City looked to have built some serious momentum. Indeed, the Etihad Stadium side won six matches in-a-row in all competitions last month as they put up a strong fight on all fronts for silverware. Since then, though, Guardiola has adopted a new tactical approach that hasn’t worked.
This approach has deployed Semenyo in a more central role to the one he impressed in for Bournemouth. Guardiola has used the Ghanaian alongisde Erling Haaland as a secondary forward or as a roaming attacking midfielder in a 4-2-2-2 shape that sees Manchester City clog the centre of the field.
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 04: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, interacts with Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest at Etihad Stadium on March 04, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Getty Images
The problem, however, is that this role doesn’t get Semenyo into open space. That’s where the 26-year-old is most effective, as he demonstrated in a number of eye-catching performances for Bournemouth when Andoni Iraola built his quick-transition style of play around the natural threat of Semenyo on the break.
Guardiola clearly saw Semenyo as more than just a player to knife through opponents in quick transition, and with good reason. The Ghanaian is comfortable with both feet, can change directly swiftly and is as good at creating as he is finishing. In many ways, he’s a perfect fit for Manchester City.
And yet Guardiola is being accused of limiting Semenyo in the same way he did Jack Grealish. He too was a mercurial wide player who was at his best when he could make quick decisions in the final third. Semenyo’s addition made City’s squad stronger, but his specific deployment by Guardiola might be making them weaker.
Continue reading...
