Antonine Semenyo has admitted that Manchester City’s FA Cup celebrations have been muted as attention turns back to the Premier League title race.
Semenyo hit the winning goal, an impudent flick from Erling Haaland’s cut-back, as City beat Chelsea 1-0 to lift the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon.
It has been a whirlwind five months for Semenyo, who has lifted the Carabao Cup and FA Cup since signing for City in a deal worth £64million from Bournemouth in January.
The 26-year-old, who was nominated for Premier League Player of the Year this week, has hit the ground running at City, producing 11 goals and three assists in all competitions.
It has taken no time for Semenyo to adapt to Pep Guardiola’s demands. But he admits it has been surreal trying to settle in, with City looking to seal a domestic treble by pipping Arsenal to the Premier League title.
“Yeah, it's been surreal, everything has just happened so quickly. But again, when you come to a team in January, you have to adapt as quickly as you can and do the best for the team,” Semenyo said.
“So I am happy I am doing so, and Tuesday is obviously a very important one (game). So we just have to go there and win.”
City are two points behind Arsenal with two games to play, and need Mikel Arteta’s men to drop points if they are to secure their ninth top-flight title and seventh under Guardiola.
City travel to Semenyo’s former club, Bournemouth, on Tuesday as they bid to take the title race to the final day next Sunday.
Semenyo says he is still in contact with his former team-mates, who have been joking that they are under strict instructions to foul him, but is adamant all familiarities will be put to one side when the two teams meet at the Vitality Stadium.
“The last five months have been so intense, so many games and expectations are high, so we want to win as many games in every cup competition as possible,” Semenyo continued.
“We're not focused on Arsenal and what they do. We just have to win our games and apply pressure the best way we can. In order to do that, we just need to win.”
