‘Every goal that I have written down so far has manifested’: Semenyo explains how journaling helps him navigate life
New Delhi: Manchester City winger Antoine Semenyo has attributed his rise in professional football and his ability to overcome early career hurdles to a lifelong habit of journaling, a practice he started at 14.
The 26-year-old’s path to elite football was not linear. After facing trial rejections as a teenager, Semenyo signed his first professional contract with Bristol City in 2018. Following a successful spell at Bournemouth starting in 2023, he secured a high-profile move to Manchester City in January.
Reflecting on his early struggles, Semenyo explained that writing down his goals helped tame a tendency to overthink, serving as a pillar for his personal and athletic growth.
“A lot of the time I was overthinking, so it became a habit. I manifest what I want for the season and for the years ahead, and it’s worked out well so far." Semenyo said in an interview with UEFA ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday.
“Every goal that I’ve written down so far has manifested. When anything pops up, I write it down and come back to it to see it at a later stage,” he added.
Key career milestones
Milestone / Club | Role & Impact |
Teenage Years | Faced multiple academy trial rejections; turned to journaling to manage overthinking. |
Bristol City (2018) | Earned first professional contract following early setbacks. |
Bournemouth (2023) | Established himself as a prominent Premier League winger. |
Manchester City (Jan) | Transferred to Man City; tallied 13 goals in 35 appearances, including the FA Cup final winner. |
Tactical growth under Pep Guardiola
Semenyo credits reviewing his written entries with helping him absorb tactical instructions and adapt to Pep Guardiola’s demands at the highest level.
“From day one, I had to understand myself as a player. It’s understanding the pace of the game, when to go slow, when to speed it up, and when to dribble. Pep drilled that into me a lot, and it’s helped me. That’s where the journaling comes in because I’ve written all this stuff down. Then I can go back to it and tick it off,” he said.
Overcoming adversity
Navigating loan spells and periods out of the starting lineup at Newport County, Sunderland, and Bristol City taught Semenyo mental toughness—a quality he considers essential for top-tier competition.
“It’s made me, ultimately, resilient. I’m strong-minded and have strong character. Anything in the way is just a blur; I’m always going to be tunnel visioned on what my goal is. If I want something, I’m going to get it eventually. You need to be strong-minded to get through those moments. If you’re not strong-minded, you’ll fall,” he added.
“I’m playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world. We’re playing our best football, and I’m with star players, and I’m still learning about myself every day,” he said. (IANS)