Phil Foden and John Stones react to Jeremy Doku’s ‘hurtful’ Man City message
Jeremy Doku shared his thoughts on social media after Manchester City suffered a shock defeat to Al-Hilal in the Club World Cup.
Man City’s campaign ended in disappointment as they were knocked out by the Saudi Pro League side after a dramatic extra-time clash.
Pep Guardiola’s men made the perfect start, taking the lead inside nine minutes, but Al-Hilal responded well with goals from Marcos Leonardo and Malcom.
Erling Haaland managed to pull City level, sending the match to extra-time, where former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly struck to restore Al-Hilal’s advantage. Phil Foden equalised once again for City, but it was Leonardo who had the final say, scoring his second of the night to send Al-Hilal through to the last eight.
Doku was at the centre of controversy after a reckless challenge that left Guardiola furious, but the Belgian winger battled on until the final whistle and played the full 120 minutes.
Following the defeat, Doku sent a message to the supporters, thanking them for their backing throughout the season as City’s hopes of Club World Cup glory came to an abrupt end.
Jeremy Doku sends message to Man City fans after Club World Cup heartbreak
Doku responded to City’s Club World Cup exit with a disappointed but defiant message to supporters on Instagram, saying:
“It hurts today. This wasn’t the ending we wanted in the tournament. But I trust in God’s plan and stay focused on the journey. Proud of the team, we keep moving.”
The Belgian winger’s post earned plenty of reactions, with teammates Foden, John Stones and Ruben Dias among those liking the message.
Players from rival clubs also showed their support, with Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch and Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard both liking the post.
Despite the frustration of City’s exit to Al-Hilal, Doku enjoyed a strong individual campaign in the tournament, scoring twice in three matches.
He established himself as Guardiola’s first-choice option on the left wing ahead of the likes of Jack Grealish, who was left out of Man City’s squad for the summer tournament.
However, the 23-year-old was unable to influence the outcome in City’s extra-time defeat to Al-Hilal, which brought a disappointing season to a close.
John Stones among players facing uncertain Man City future
While Stones was active in supporting his teammates on social media, his future at the Etihad looks increasingly uncertain.
Football Insider revealed Stones is one of seven players Man City could look to move on this summer as part of a wider squad overhaul.
Persistent injury issues have limited his involvement, with the defender making just 20 appearances across all competitions last season.
With Man City open to offers for Stones, this summer could mark the end of the Englishman’s time under Guardiola.