Antoine Semenyo admitted he’s still getting used to challenging for major trophies after his sumptuous goal helped Manchester City win an eighth Emirates FA Cup.
The 26 year old produced a brilliantly flicked finish in the 72nd minute at Wembley to settle the showpiece after Erling Haaland’s first-half goal was ruled out for offside.
The Ghanaian, who joined from Bournemouth in January for £65m, adds an Emirates FA Cup winner's medal to the League Cup success he tasted in March, and said he is excited about fighting for silverware on a regular basis.
“It feels surreal [to be an Emirates FA Cup match-winner],” he said. “I’ve never competed for trophies like this before so it’s all new to me. It took a long time to get here but, listen, I’m grateful. Whatever happens when you’re 15 or 16, it doesn’t mean it’s the end of the journey.”
Semenyo was named Player of the Match after delivering an inspired performance in north London, capping it off with one of the great Emirates FA Cup Final goals.
After good work from Haaland in picking up a loose ball, the number nine then manoeuvred the ball well with captain Bernardo Silva before picking out Semenyo with his pull-back.
With his back to goal and being closely marked by Levi Colwill, City’s number 42 wasn’t favourite to put the ball in the back of Robert Sanchez’s net from the position he was in.
A moment of magic from Antoine Semenyo ✨#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/ERzAkDUOnM
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) May 16, 2026
However, Semenyo conjured up a deft finish which was placed perfectly into the corner, beyond the reach of Chelsea’s diving shot stopper.
When asked whether the finish was something he’d been practising, Semenyo continued: “A couple of times when I’ve had to improvise and it happened perfectly today. The ball was behind me and as long as I got contact on it towards the goal, I was hoping it would go in. Everything happened so fast. It’s a good finish, I can’t lie!”
The winger was a constant thorn in Chelsea’s side under the Wembley arch, routinely attacking Calum McFarlane’s outfit’s penalty box and almost breaking the deadlock earlier in the game with a towering header.
Semenyo said the trust of manager Pep Guardiola upon his arrival in the north west was crucial to helping him settle and allowing him to thrive.
He said: “The first thing [Pep Guardiola] said to me when I came here was, ‘Don’t change your game.’ He knows we control games a lot but he still wants me to be me – create a bit of chaos, get in behind, get shots away, dribble at defenders. That’s what I’m good at. It was the first thing he said and that gave me a bit of peace because I wasn’t sure what I was stepping into. He’s been great.”
After winning their second domestic trophy of the season, City’s attention now turns to a trip to Semenyo’s former side on Tuesday evening as they look to overhaul Arsenal in the race for the Premier League title.
As a result, the celebrations for winning at Wembley will have to be put on hold.
“I don’t think there will be many celebrations tonight,” added Semenyo.” We need to get ready for Tuesday. Hopefully the results will go our way.”
