Ghana international Antoine Semenyo has declared Manchester City's environment "perfect" for his development after making an immediate impact with goals in each of his first two appearances for the club. The 25-year-old forward, who completed a £65 million ($87 million) transfer from Bournemouth last week, opened the scoring in City's 2-0 victory over Newcastle United in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final on January 13, 2026. He also found the net during a dominant 10-1 FA Cup win over Exeter City on Saturday, taking his tally to 12 goals across all competitions this season.
Semenyo expressed delight with his seamless integration into Pep Guardiola's squad, crediting the positive and ambitious atmosphere at the club. "The whole environment here is perfect. Everyone is confident and wanting to achieve the best. I have come into that, and they helped with my confidence and made me feel welcome," he said. The forward emphasized his enjoyment of the rapid transition, adding that he is "picking things up very quickly" while carrying forward the confidence built at Bournemouth and playing with a constant smile.
During the Newcastle match at St. James' Park, Semenyo had a second goal controversially disallowed following a prolonged VAR review, a decision that left Manchester City frustrated. Rayan Cherki sealed the win deep into nine minutes of added time, giving City a strong advantage heading into the second leg. Despite the commanding lead, Captain Bernardo Silva voiced ongoing grievances over refereeing decisions, referencing two disallowed penalties in City's earlier 2-1 Premier League defeat to Newcastle this season. "It should have been 3-0, but we are quite used to this at the moment," Silva remarked, highlighting recurring frustrations at the venue.
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Manager Pep Guardiola echoed similar sentiments, pointing to the disallowed goal as a missed opportunity to extend the margin further. The result strengthens City's position in the League Cup, a competition they have dominated in recent years, while Semenyo's early contributions underline his potential as a key addition to the attacking lineup. His ability to score in diverse competitions so soon after joining suggests a smooth adaptation to the demands of top-tier English football.
As Manchester City prepares for the return leg and continues their pursuit of domestic and European honors, Semenyo's positive start and glowing assessment of the club's culture bode well for his long-term success in sky blue. The Ghanaian's blend of pace, power, and finishing has already endeared him to fans, setting the stage for an exciting second half of the season.
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