Doku backs Manchester City to rebound following Champions League exit

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]City[/a] were all but eliminated by Spanish giants [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a] during a 3-0 defeat in last week's first leg of a last-16 tie at the Bernabeu Stadium.[/p][p]And the record 15-time European champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/manchester-city-Wtn9Stg0/real-madrid-W8mj7MDD/?mid=Sx4Kqs0J"]completed the job at City's Etihad Stadium on Tuesday with a 2-1 success[/a] for a 5-1 aggregate win after the hosts played most of that match a man down following captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/silva-bernardo/lUg03qcR/"]Bernardo Silva[/a]'s red card for handball.[/p][p]Defeat capped a tough few days for City, with a draw at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/west-ham/Cxq57r8g/"]West Ham[/a] in between the two matches, with Real leaving them nine points adrift of Premier League leaders [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a].[/p][p]They must now rouse themselves for an [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/arsenal-hA1Zm19f/manchester-city-Wtn9Stg0/?mid=rJ3qBSJD"]EFL Cup final against the Gunners at Wembley on Sunday[/a], but City winger Doku is convinced team morale remains high.[/p][p][b]"We played well (against Real)," [/b]he said.[b] "We played well with 11 against 11 and 10 against 11. We created chances.[/b][/p][p][b]"I feel like if we play like that every game, we'll put many teams in trouble. There are some good things to take out of this game to the next one."[/b][/p][p]The 23-year-old Belgian winger added: [b]"There's still a lot to play for. We're still in three competitions, three trophies to win.[/b][/p][p][b]"If we do that, it's still going to be a great season."[/b][/p][embed guid="b0190724-6934-441c-83b0-411b6d5603b5" url="https://x.com/ManCity/status/2034053417140736123?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Turning to the League Cup final, Doku reckoned it was "a good cure" for City's European woes. [b]"We'll do everything to win that game and to win a trophy,"[/b] he said.[/p][p]City started well on Tuesday, but were dealt a huge blow when captain skipper Silva was sent off after 20 minutes for handling a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vinicius-junior/CbwQ4Mws/"]Vinicius Junior[/a] shot on the line.[/p][p]Vinicius scored from the ensuing penalty and, although [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/haaland-erling/UmV9iQmE/"]Erling Haaland[/a] equalised for City, defeat on the night was confirmed when Vinicius grabbed his second goal in stoppage time.[/p][p]Doku insisted Silva had the full support of his City teammates.[/p][p][b]"Obviously, he's disappointed," he said. "Knowing him, I know he takes it very personally.[/b][/p][p][b]"But even after it, we stood there, we were in the game. He's disappointed, but we're all there for him. We know his contribution to the team is massive.[/b][/p][p][b]"We can be proud of our performance. Playing against a big team like that, 10 against 11, and still performing like we did, still putting them into trouble. Not every team can do that."[/b][/p]