Antoine Semenyo’s flying start, a near-empty training ground and Emmanuel Adebayor looking back on his time at Man City feature in Tuesday’s news and talking points.
There was also praise for City’s academy from Emile Heskey, while Erling Haaland finally earned himself a trip to the barber after five Premier League wins from five.
Semenyo settles quickly at City
Semenyo has made an immediate impression following his summer move from Bournemouth.
The Ghana international scored twice and provided an assist in Sunday’s 5-3 win over Sunderland, taking his Premier League return to four goals and three assists from his first five appearances for City.
Semenyo has spoken about working under Enzo Maresca, with the City boss encouraging him to express himself in the final third.
His two goals against Sunderland came either side of half-time as City maintained their perfect Premier League start.
City left with enough players for one five-a-side team
It could be unusually quiet at the City Football Academy for the next couple of weeks.
City’s official international guide lists 20 members of Maresca’s first-team squad who have joined up with their countries, with several academy players also away.
Jeremy Doku, Allan Elias, Phil Foden, Marcus Bettinelli and Matheus Nunes are among the senior players staying behind, according to Sky Blues.
That leaves enough for one five-a-side team. Finding them some opposition might be more difficult.
City return to Premier League action against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday 11 October.
Adebayor looks back on early City project
Emmanuel Adebayor believes the City squad he joined in 2009 was there for the early stages of a project that eventually delivered the trophies they were chasing.
The former City and Arsenal striker accepts his generation did not finish the job themselves.
“I went to Manchester City. We started the project of winning championships, winning the Champions League. We couldn’t make it happen,” he told Flashscore.
“Those who follow us are making it happen now. We can only be happy for them.”
Adebayor joined City from Arsenal in the summer of 2009. City won the FA Cup in 2011, the Premier League the following season and eventually the Champions League in 2023.
Heskey praises City’s academy
Former England striker Emile Heskey has spoken warmly about City’s academy after watching two of his sons develop at the club.
Jaden and Reigan Heskey have both spent significant parts of their development with City, and their father believes the environment has helped them on and off the pitch.
Heskey praised the standards at the academy, while also stressing the importance of allowing young players to find their own way.
City’s academy has already been prominent this season, with Floyd Samba scoring twice and Allan Elias also finding the net on their senior debuts against Norwich City in the Carabao Cup.
Five wins send Haaland to the barber
Haaland has found another benefit to City’s perfect Premier League start.
The Norwegian had reportedly decided not to have his hair cut again until City had won five consecutive league matches. Sunday’s victory over Sunderland completed the sequence five games into the season.
Football on TNT Sports compared Haaland’s challenge with Manchester United supporter Frank Ilett, better known as The United Strand, who has been waiting since October 2024 for United to win five successive matches.
Haaland’s wait was considerably shorter.
Five games, five wins. The barber did not have to wait long.
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