Semenyo scores twice as five-win Manchester City demolish Sunderland 5-3

Antoine Semenyo scored twice to help Manchester City beat Sunderland 5-3 at the weekend, giving Enzo Maresca’s side five wins from five to open their Premier League campaign. The Ghanaian winger now has 13 goals and 13 assists in 34 appearances for the club.

Semenyo’s second goal was particularly telling. Clean through on goal, he chose to shoot with his left foot rather than square the ball to Erling Haaland — a decision that spoke to his growing confidence as a finisher. Haaland had already squandered a clear chance earlier in the match, and Semenyo was not about to hand him a gift.

The 25-year-old has started every Premier League game under Maresca and has embraced the freedom the manager gives wide players. “For wide players, we’re high and wide, and we get a lot of one-versus-one situations, and he backs us to win our duels,” Semenyo said.

With Haaland’s long-term fitness never guaranteed, Semenyo has been linked with a back-up central striking role. He is not dismissing the idea. “I’ve heard about his back-up striker thing. I don’t know where it’s come from, but yeah — if I need to, then I’ll do it. I’ve no problem in doing that,” he said.

Semenyo is also quick to credit the squad depth around him for keeping standards high. “It’s healthy competition at the end of the day. You want to have all the top players chasing your position. If you slip up, you know someone else is coming in and taking a spot.”

Haaland contributed just one of the five goals against Sunderland, with Enzo Fernandez also getting on the scoresheet. Semenyo singled out the Argentine midfielder for praise. “He’s nice, calm, collected, aggressive when he needs to be, but he obviously has his quality on the ball. So we’re happy he’s in the team and there will be many more goals and assists to come.”

Despite the perfect start, Semenyo is wary of complacency setting in. “We’re not going to get too complacent, too relaxed. We know that there are a lot more games to go. We just want to continue winning — so we just have to keep going.”