Former England defender Micah Richards has heaped praise on Ghana international Antoine Semenyo, applauding his seamless adaptation and growing influence at Manchester City.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Richards described Semenyo as a player with “true quality,” highlighting his pace, strength, and football intelligence as key attributes that have enabled him to thrive under Pep Guardiola’s demanding system.
“He’s just got that true quality,” Richards said. “We always say players need time to adapt at new clubs, but he brings the pace, the power, and football IQ to do what Pep wants. That’s the most important thing.”
Adapting to a Demanding Role
Richards noted that Semenyo’s responsibilities extend beyond attacking duties. With established names like Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush operating in forward areas, the Ghanaian has also been required to track back and perform defensive tasks — roles that may not have been entirely familiar to him.
“When you’re up front with Haaland, then with Marmoush, but also he’s having to drop in defensively to positions which are probably new to him — the way he’s adapted is absolutely fantastic,” Richards added.
Delivering Among the Stars
Despite sharing the pitch with top talents such as Phil Foden and Tijjani Reijnders, Semenyo has managed to make a notable impact.
Richards believes that standing out in such a star-studded squad underlines the forward’s ability to compete at the highest level.
“There’s so many stars in the Man City team… but to have the impact with so many of them in the team shows how good he is. The question mark was whether he could do it at this level — and he definitely can.”
With performances that continue to turn heads, Semenyo’s rise at City appears to be gathering momentum, with Richards concluding: “Long may it continue.”
