Jérémy Doku believes Manchester City can begin to heal the wounds of their Champions League exit by lifting the Carabao Cup, insisting the Wembley final offers an immediate chance at redemption.

City’s European campaign ended in brutal fashion against Real Madrid, who knocked them out for the third consecutive season. A 5-1 aggregate defeat in the round of 16 has left Pep Guardiola’s side facing familiar questions about their Champions League credentials and their ability to cope with Madrid’s ruthlessness on the biggest stage.

Yet inside the dressing room, the message is already turning from regret to response. Doku framed Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Arsenal as the perfect antidote to the midweek disappointment, describing the domestic showpiece as a “good cure” for the psychological blow of elimination.

He stressed that City cannot afford to dwell on Madrid, with the next four fixtures likely to define their season. After the Wembley final, they face an FA Cup quarterfinal against Liverpool and crucial Premier League clashes with Chelsea and Arsenal, a sequence that will determine whether this campaign is remembered as a stumble or another era-defining run.

Doku underlined that City remain alive in three competitions and that a domestic treble would still represent a remarkable year, even without European glory. The Belgian winger admitted the Champions League defeat hurt, calling it a “nice trophy to have,” but argued that the tie with Madrid offered valuable lessons in resilience and game management.

City’s second-leg loss at the Etihad was shaped by Bernardo Silva’s early red card, leaving Guardiola’s side to play most of the match with 10 men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Doku highlighted the team’s response as a source of pride and encouragement, pointing to the way City continued to press, create chances and unsettle Madrid.

He said the performance, both at 11 against 11 and after the dismissal, showed a level of intensity and bravery that can carry City through the decisive stretch of the season. If they reproduce that standard, Doku argued, they will “put many teams in trouble” and give themselves every chance of turning Champions League heartbreak into a campaign still defined by silverware.