What Jeremy Doku did after Man City derby win made it his perfect day

Manchester City beat Manchester United 3-0 at the Etihad and winger Jeremy Doku set up two of the goals.

Jeremy Doku was in excellent form for Manchester City on Sunday

Sunday turned out to be the perfect day for Jeremy Doku. A Manchester derby victory and two assists for the Belgian winger in the afternoon, before he was baptised in the city in the evening.

Doku's religion is an important part of his life and he had planned the baptism for Sunday night, so he woke up feeling that it was going to be a good day. A 3-0 victory against United certainly ticks that box.

A devoted Christian, Doku said baptism, although often associated with children, is meant for when you are older and you understand what you're doing. In a footballing context, the penny might now have dropped for the 23-year-old.

Doku has always been a thrillingly watchable winger capable of leaving his opposite number on the turf, but combining that fancy footwork with an end product has always been the challenge. He knows he needs to improve his own numbers.

Two assists on derby day will help with that. Doku set up goals for Phil Foden and Erling Haaland for his 15th and 16th assists in 62 Premier League appearances.

“If I can be honest, today was for me already a victory," Doku told reporters after the game.

“Why? Because I knew that after the game today I'm going to baptise myself, I'm going to be baptised. Maybe that's why I felt like I was pushed today. That's why I'm very happy with the performance as well.”

It was typical Doku that he told that story rather than taking a victory lap for one of his most complete performances in a City shirt. When talking about himself, he spoke about religion, but he didn't miss the chance to praise the goalscorers.

Foden's was his first Premier League goal in eight months as he seeks to put issues on and off the pitch from last season behind him. The 25-year-old has admitted criticism can get to him, which Doku also touched upon, but inside the squad, his quality is in no doubt.

“I'm very happy for him. He deserves it," he said. "Phil is a lovely guy. I know sometimes he struggles when people criticise him.

“Football is not easy and today he showed again that talent-wise you cannot say a word about him. I'm very happy for him, I know his qualities and I know that he will show that to everyone. I have no doubt about him.”

Foden could add goals to this team, especially if Doku starts to turn creator as well, but one player whose output isn't in doubt is Haaland. The Norwegian has five goals in four games this season and has made an electric start to the campaign.

“Erling is a machine. We know that he's going to score goals," said Doku. “For me, great players are there at the big moments and it was a big moment in the derby.

“You can always count on him. I know when I play a ball to him that he will always make sure that it's a goal or a great save, so I'm very happy for him.”

Victory moved City to two wins and two defeats this season as they seek to bed in a new squad after the arrival of 10 new players in 2025.

Doku also pointed to the opposition's change in tactics as something they are trying to get used to, with Premier League sides now more proactive in trying to stifle City's threat.

“I think every season is different. Different players, different style," he said.

“I think also the opponents are different against us. They play more man-man sometimes. Previously they were more laid back.

“But I feel like the players are adapting, the new players are adapting. We are starting to understand the way of playing with each other."

Doku is now looking forward to Thursday's club reunion with international teammate Kevin De Bruyne. The Napoli fixture will be his first since Sunday night's baptism.

“As a Christian, when you get baptised, your old nature, your old sinful nature dies, and you start living with God. You resurrect with God, with Jesus Christ," Doku explained.

“You can do that as a kid but normally it's meant for when you're older and you really realise what you're doing, so that's what I'm going to do today.

“I was already excited before the game because I knew that today is a victory day.”