Premier League champions Manchester City enjoyed a moment of individual recognition in February as winger Antoine Semenyo and manager Pep Guardiola clinched the league’s Player and Manager of the Month awards, respectively.
The double honour offered some relief for the English champions following their midweek disappointment against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
Semenyo’s triumph stands out as a particularly remarkable feat. The Ghana international, who joined City in a January transfer reportedly worth $84 million (£62.5 million), became just the second winter signing in Premier League history to win February’s Player of the Month award immediately after moving clubs.
The only player to achieve the same feat previously was Bruno Fernandes, who did so for Manchester United in 2020.
The winger had already been in fine form before leaving AFC Bournemouth, signing off with a stoppage-time winner against Tottenham Hotspur. He wasted little time making an impact at his new club.
Semenyo scored on his Premier League debut for City at the Etihad Stadium against Wolverhampton Wanderers and went on to net three goals in five league appearances throughout February.
“This is a brilliant moment for me,” the versatile winger beamed via club channels following his first-ever triumph in this particular individual award. “To win the Premier League Player of the Month award so soon after joining City is something I’ll never forget.
“My focus now is on continuing to improve and helping City to achieve the best possible results. We have so much to play for and I am really excited about this final period of the season.”
February 2026 Premier League Player of the Month nominees:
- Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal)
- Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City)
- Dango Ouattara (Brentford)
- Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City)
- Benjamin Šeško (Manchester United)
- Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
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Meanwhile, Guardiola ensured City completed a clean sweep of the monthly awards after guiding his side through a strong run of results in February. The Spanish tactician oversaw four league victories during the month as City strengthened their push in the title race.
Their impressive form was only slightly dented by a 2–2 draw against Nottingham Forest, but that match took place at the start of March and was therefore outside the voting period.
However, the club’s 3–0 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League painted a very different emotional picture behind the scenes.
Midfielder Bernardo Silva later described the atmosphere inside the dressing room after the loss as “really bad, really dark.” Reports suggested the players were visibly devastated following the defeat.
According to the Daily Mail, the City squad were so disheartened after the game that some of them could not even bring themselves to shower before boarding the team bus back to the hotel. The journey was said to have been unusually quiet.
“In these weeks we’re not going to win a lot but we can lose a lot,” Bernardo warned.
Despite the difficult European night, the individual awards for Semenyo and Guardiola underline the strong domestic form City produced throughout February.
Still, the team’s focus remains firmly on collective success as the season approaches its decisive final stretch.
February 2026 Premier League Manager of the Month nominees:
- Keith Andrews (Brentford)
- Michael Carrick (Manchester United)
- Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)
- Arne Slot (Liverpool)
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