63 | Divine Mukasa - 2025/26

jollylescott said:
I thought he acquitted himself very well, and I think Pep would have also been impressed. For an 18 year old he showed a great deal of maturity.

He took the corner that led to Cherki's goal and worked hard on and off the ball whilst playing across the frontline. Pep also let him see out the 90 minutes, which is an indication he was happy with the way he was playing.

For anyone who's watched him in the academy teams, he has tremendous skill and a real eye for goal creativity.

He's definitely going places with us and I'm sure he'll bob up again as the season progresses.
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This is exactly as I saw it - a team performance from a player not feeling like he has to do extraordinary things to try and catch the eye. That comes from being secure in your talent. He is a gifted player, but I was pleased with such understatement. There is a big gap from being a star at academy level to being a world-level star, which is what you need to be to shine in our first XI.
 
Its pretty classic Pep for attacking players.

False 9 is literally the least stressful role on the pitch for youth.

You have very little defensive contributions, so you can't fuck up, and nobody really expects you to get a goal or assist, but if you do, then everybody is delighted.

So Pep telling him to go out there and have fun seems about right, and he looked fine.

I think he will be a useful player for us as he sees more and more of the adult game and how much quicker it is.
 
Durutti City said:
Sounds goofy but, as ever with the young players coming through, I imagine it's what he didn't (try to) do that will probably have impressed Pep. I think he looks good.
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Its what i love about him. Doesn't overdo things. And not out of fear either. Just playing the best intelligent football in the circumstance.

I really like him. Dont know his best position yet. But i like what im seeing.
 
Good again, really like what we are seeing from him and great to make his prem debut
 
Doesn't stand out to me as somebody obviously super talented but like I said midweek, he doesnt stand out as somebody that doesnt belong either. Got to be a high level player at any age to fit into this side and not look out of place. Still think he should be using nico O'Reilly as an example, identify where there is a need for a player in the squad and work on being an option in that role, we currently lack a proper backup for Erling. If he can play competently as a 9, he'll open up his chances of seeing more minutes.
 
Pep giving a youngster some game time in the Premier League suggests he sees some potential. This might be another Cole Palmer moment or he may grow into the squad like Foden and O’Reilly. Good to see the lad getting his first EPL game though.
 
Thought he took a big step forward this his performance yesterday. Looked really good and nearly had a nice assist. Just not sure what position he is but do like the look
of him.
 
Looked more determined in his cameo the other day. I thought he was a bit shy in the first half against Brentford.
 
More minutes more confidence. Big step up to first team and likely to take a few years to establish himself in squad at least. Hopefully he can get to the right level and gets the minutes he needs.
 
Ste68 said:
More minutes more confidence. Big step up to first team and likely to take a few years to establish himself in squad at least. Hopefully he can get to the right level and gets the minutes he needs.
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Indeed. Academy football is very slow, played by lads who aren’t developed as men yet and there are players who end up being plumbers and estate agents playing alongside talented lads but don’t compliment the talented lads well, so when these lads come into first team football (especially at City’s level) it takes them a good while to get used to the pace and physicality.
 
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