When it comes to Antoine Semenyo, it is almost impossible not to fixate on his career journey. Everybody loves a triumph over adversity, a rise from the lowest level to the very top, and the narrative arc with the Manchester City winger is practically perfect.
There were the relentless rejections by the clubs in every corner of London as he grew up, culminating in the one from Crystal Palace at 15 that led him to stop playing football for a year. The rebuild at the Wiltshire Sports Academy in Swindon and South Gloucestershire and Stroud College in Bristol, which led to the big break at Bristol City, and a first professional contract at 17.
The loans at Bath City in National League South, Newport in League Two, Sunderland in League One. The progression from Bristol City in the Championship to Bournemouth in the Premier League, with international recognition by Ghana thrown in; involvement with them at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
But never mind all that. How about this season alone and, more specifically, what has happened to Semenyo since January, when he moved from Bournemouth to Manchester for £65m? The 26-year-old played his part in the Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal in March – his first silverware – and it was just an extraordinary moment on Saturday when he scored the only goal of the FA Cup final to sink Chelsea; a spinning, back-heeled, volleyed flick on 72 minutes.
It was Semenyo’s 20th goal of the season: 10 for Bournemouth, 10 for City. And it reinforced why he is a part of the conversation for the player of the year awards: his 16 Premier League goals have been bettered only by his City teammate Erling Haaland and Brentford’s Igor Thiago. “It’s been surreal,” Semenyo says. “Everything’s just happened so quickly.”
There was a lovely line on Saturday evening that summed up so much. Semenyo had become the first former Bath City player to have scored in the FA Cup final since Stan Mortensen in 1953. Yet there is no time to draw breath because Semenyo and City have a domestic treble to chase.
Arsenal – the club Semenyo supported as a boy – remain firm favourites to win the league; they are two points clear of City with two matches to go. Arsenal face Burnley at home on Monday night before finishing at Palace on Sunday. But City intend to push them all the way and for Semenyo, it just had to be that their next game is at Bournemouth on Tuesday night. They entertain Aston Villa on the final day.
Semenyo still speaks to his old Bournemouth teammates every day and they have made it clear that they are ready for him. “To be honest, they’ve been giving me a lot of crap,” he says, with a smile. “Just like they’re going to kick me and this and that. But it’ll be good to see them all. It won’t be weird going back.”
It could hardly be spicier. Bournemouth have not lost in the league since Semenyo departed; a run of 15 matches. “I was the problem,” he deadpans.
As the outgoing manager, Andoni Iraola, prepares for his last home game, Bournemouth are chasing a sensational Champions League qualification. They have never played in Europe.
“We’ll just focus on us,” Semenyo says. “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.”
Semenyo has felt his mentality harden since joining City, being surrounded by so many people who know what it takes to win – especially Pep Guardiola. The manager was not happy at half-time against Chelsea and, according to Semenyo, he “demanded a little bit more”.
Was Guardiola animated? “He was just normal Pep … a lot of emotion,” Semenyo says.
That sounds like a yes. “However you want to take it, not a problem,” Semenyo replies. “But just normal Pep and just demanding a lot from us because he knows we can do it.”
In his 10 years at City, Guardiola has now won 17 major trophies plus three Community Shields. So, a double of sorts per season, on average.
Will he walk away in the summer? The wind is blowing in that direction, although with Guardiola it is hard to say for sure.
“I’m really happy that he’s still here at the moment and let’s see what happens at the end of the season,” Phil Foden, who was an unused substitute at Wembley, said. “Hopefully he can be here next season. All I can say is it’s been a pleasure playing under him.”
All Guardiola will say is that it is on to the next. Semenyo is learning fast about the demands of the elite. So far for him, it has been so very good.