Pep Guardiola says Tottenham have an ‘incredible’ starlet in their academy
Jamie Donley may have been on the receiving end of a defeat in the FA Cup fourth-round clash against Manchester City, but his performance for Leyton Orient has garnered praise from Pep Guardiola himself after the game.
Jamie Donley produces moment of magic against Man City
If Leyton Orient were going to cause a historic upset at home against the Premier League champions, they needed Donley to deliver some magic, and the on-loan Tottenham man did just that.
The O’s number 17 lobbed Stefan Ortega in the Man City goal from not too far beyond the halfway line with a sensational left-foot effort.
While the goal technically goes down as an Ortega own goal since it cannoned off the crossbar and hit the German on his back before going into the back of the net, the strike was a thing of beauty from Donley, who took on the audacious effort despite being under pressure in midfield.
Watch Donley’s strike below:
Pep Guardiola praises Jamie Donley
It looked like the goal might see the O’s seal a historic upset as the home side took a 1-0 lead into the break.
However, City came fighting back in the second half, with goals from Abdukodir Khusanov and Kevin De Bryne ensuring that they avoided an embarrassing slip-up and sealed their passage into the fifth round.
Guardiola was left mightily impressed by the 20-year-old’s strike and waxed lyrical about the Spurs academy graduate after the game.
The City boss said (via George Sessions): “What a goal. Fantastic he shoot, the quality, the technique and the speed, the flight of the ball. When you concede this goal, it is just to congratulate the guy. I think it was Donley. He is an incredible left-foot player.”
This goal will do wonders for Donley’s confidence
The attacking midfielder was already riding high on confidence on the back of his recent form, and this goal will only further boost his belief that he can produce at the highest level.
To stand out in a game where there were so many top-class talents on the pitch and to hear Guardiola speak so highly of you would come as confirmation to Donley that he is good enough to make it.
The attacking midfielder will likely be a completely transformed player when he rejoins Tottenham for pre-season in the summer.
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