Doku's honest admission on Man City's season - but he has reason for optimism

Jeremy Doku put Manchester City back on track for a return to Champions League orbit - but admitted he knew it wasn’t always going to be a bed of roses at the Etihad.

The Belgian winger was outstanding in City’s 1-0 win against bogey men Tottenham on Wednesday night as the fallen champions climbed back into the top four. But Doku, whose quick feet and electric pace has pushed £100 million Jack Grealish into the fringes, always suspected there would be bumps in the road after City’s four titles in a row.

Erling Haaland's 20th Premier League goal of the season clinched the points on a ground where City had lost on six of their previous eight visits, and they looked back to near the peak form of Pep Guardiola's untouchables.

Doku said: “More like the old Man City? Yeah, I guess - back to winning ways, we know how difficult it is to come to Tottenham and win, even last season.

“First season as I came here we won the Premier League, but I knew it was not always going to be like this, the privilege. Sometimes you go through difficult moments but you take those moments to learn and become a better player.

“You learn even more from these seasons. When everything goes by itself, you don’t learn as much as when we have some difficulties. Last season we had some difficulties as well, but this season a bit more and I learn from every difficult moment.

“Obviously there are some new players, you can feel that there are new players, you can feel on the pitch there are different players, but it’s the same coach, the same style of play. That didn’t change, so we keep on doing what we used to do.”

With six-times title winner Kevin de Bruyne out of contract this summer and with an uncertain future, City messiah Guardiola has already begun a wholesale makeover of his midfield. Doku believes wew signings Niko Gonzalez, Omar Marmoush and the return of long-term injury absentee Rodri will reinvigorate the side and he said: “With Kevin, we know the influence he still has and has had.

“When he doesn’t play, we have to do it without him but we know every time he is on the pitch he will add something. We just have to do it with and without sometimes.

“Everyone has different qualities, but we know the specific qualities of Kevin are unique. We’re not asking for someone else to be like Kevin - he has his own personality and style of play and we just want them to be themselves.”

City could yet reel in faltering Arsenal to pinch the runners-up spot, but Doku insisted: “Our target is just to win every game, go game by game and see where we are at the end.”

Guardiola still has high hopes of FA Cup success, with Saturday’s teatime fifth round tie against giant-killers Plymouth Argyle next on the agenda.