Jeremy Doku has pushed back against the idea that Pep Guardiola's structured approach stifled his creativity, revealing that his former Manchester City manager gave him considerable freedom to express himself on the pitch.

The Belgian winger, who joined Manchester City from Rennes for £55 million in the summer of 2023, has become one of the Premier League's most thrilling attackers — direct, explosive, and almost impossible to pin down. Speaking to FourFourTwo, Doku made clear that Guardiola's methods were far less restrictive than many assume.

"I don't remember Pep telling me before a game, 'Jeremy, when you have the ball, do this and do that,'" Doku said. "He'd tell us where the spaces are, but he signed every player for the individual qualities they possess."

Doku went on to illustrate Guardiola's player-specific philosophy, name-checking several of his Manchester City teammates. "Omar Marmoush's quality is his shooting, so shoot. Cherki's qualities are… a lot, so do a lot! [Abdukodir] Khusanov's quality is speed, so run quickly. Use your quality — it's why we brought you to the club."

Tactical lessons alongside creative freedom

While Guardiola gave Doku room to improvise in possession, the Catalan coach also delivered targeted tactical guidance. "He also told me tactically how I need to defend, and that when I have the ball, with my speed and explosiveness, that when I give the last pass or do the last movement, I should breathe and not go at the same intensity — that I need to calm down at the end of the action so I can make the best decision," Doku explained.

"He's taught me that, and I feel like I've seen the fruits of it."

The comments arrive amid long-running debate over whether Guardiola's system cost Jack Grealish — the £100 million signing — his best form at the club. Doku's experience paints a starkly different picture.

A record that speaks for itself

In 133 appearances for Manchester City, Doku has scored 20 goals and contributed 34 assists. He claimed a Premier League title in his debut season and heads into the FIFA World Cup 2026 cycle as one of Belgium's most important attacking weapons.

"I've been able to improve my decision-making and my awareness on the ball, choosing my moments," he added — a testament to three years working under one of the game's most demanding coaches.