Jeremy Doku has called out Manchester City’s critics, insisting that his side still believe they can defend their Premier League title.
Asked if the title was beyond City, Doku responded: ‘They can say whatever they want. We just stay in our bubble and we're still in December.
'If they think it's over, let them think it's over. We are going to look game by game, try to win as much as possible, and we will see at the end.’
With Liverpool dropping points at Newcastle and City beating Nottingham Forest on Wednesday, the gap between the two sides is now down to nine points with 24 games remaining.
Both Arsenal and Chelsea are seven points behind Liverpool, who have dropped just seven points all season.
Asked if it was an opportunity to prove people wrong with all the negative noise surrounding Pep Guardiola’s side, Doku added: ‘No, we just don't listen. At the end of the day when everything goes well they're going to hype you up. When everything goes bad you're the worst. We don't listen. We concentrate on ourselves in our bubble. We know together we'll be stronger.’
And Doku, 22, insisted that despite going on a seven-game winless streak, including four consecutive Premier League defeats, his teammates did not doubt themselves. The Belgian assisted and scored against Forest as City won their first game for 39 days.
‘We looked back on the games and what we can do different. There were no doubts in our qualities. We have won a lot. Losing games doesn't mean we're bad,’ he said. ‘We tried to work every day harder and harder. We knew at one point it would work and now the most important thing is to continue’
There was also a first City start for Kevin de Bruyne, who put in a man-of-the-match display and Doku hailed his compatriot.
‘His qualities, there’s no doubt about it. Everybody knows how much we need him when he's in form,’ he said. ‘He showed it again. Nice goal, nice assist. I’m happy for him.'
City visit Crystal Palace on Saturday after Liverpool take on Everton in the Merseyside derby.