Manchester City suffered a disappointing 2-4 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the second round of the Champions League league phase, a result that caught the attention of 12BET Malaysia football followers as the English champions saw their eight-match winning streak come to an abrupt end. The victory also extended PSG’s winning run to five consecutive matches. However, much of the criticism following the final whistle focused on summer signing Antoine Semenyo, with frustrated City supporters questioning whether the forward had justified his €70 million transfer fee.
Semenyo started the match and remained on the pitch for the full 90 minutes, but his performance fell well below expectations for one of Manchester City’s most expensive summer additions. According to the official post-match statistics, the forward attempted six shots but managed to direct only one on target. Several efforts sailed harmlessly wide, while other promising opportunities ended with the ball flying well over the crossbar. His inability to convert clear chances quickly became a source of frustration among supporters, some of whom sarcastically questioned why the club had spent €70 million on a player who seemed more capable of missing the target than threatening the opposition goalkeeper.
Unfortunately, his problems were not limited to finishing. Semenyo also struggled to maintain accuracy in possession, completing just 73% of his passes, one of the lowest passing success rates recorded during the match. His distribution repeatedly disrupted City’s attacking rhythm, while one particularly disappointing cross flew directly beyond the goal line without troubling the PSG defense. The mistake left many traveling supporters in disbelief. For a player reportedly earning £180,000 per week and carrying a €70 million price tag, such an ineffective display was difficult to accept.
The gap between Semenyo’s reputation and his actual contribution also highlighted a familiar concern within the wider 12BET Malaysia football audience: expensive transfers do not always deliver immediate results. Manchester City had invested heavily in his attacking potential, expecting his pace, direct running and finishing ability to strengthen their frontline. Instead, his wasteful shooting and inconsistent passing made him one of the most heavily criticized players following a defeat that ended the club’s impressive winning streak.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Semenyo acknowledged his disappointing performance and refused to make excuses for his mistakes. He admitted feeling personally responsible for failing to convert several promising opportunities and expressed frustration at his inability to help the team when it mattered most. The forward also emphasized his determination to regain his best form as quickly as possible, hoping to make a more meaningful contribution to City’s performances and future results.
Semenyo nevertheless pointed out that PSG had placed Manchester City under enormous pressure throughout the encounter. He believed the French champions had made life extremely difficult for his teammates and suggested that City had also suffered from unfortunate moments during the match. In his view, the result might have been different had the teams met on another day, when chances could have fallen more favorably for the English side.
His explanation did little to silence the criticism. Many supporters argued that Semenyo had failed to recognize the frustration expressed by Erling Haaland after the match. Some interpreted the Norwegian striker’s remarks as an indirect criticism of his teammate’s decision-making. They believed Semenyo had been far too selfish in attacking situations, repeatedly choosing to shoot rather than create better opportunities for Haaland. According to these critics, his reluctance to combine with the team’s leading striker made an already difficult match even harder to manage.
Other fans questioned Semenyo’s technical quality, pointing to several moments that exposed weaknesses in his first touch, passing accuracy and execution under pressure. They argued that his attacking decisions lacked the composure expected at Champions League level. Missing opportunities is part and parcel of football, but repeatedly making poor choices while teammates are better positioned can be particularly damaging against opponents as dangerous as Paris Saint-Germain.
As the debate continues among 12BET Malaysia followers, Semenyo faces mounting pressure to prove that his €70 million transfer was a worthwhile investment rather than an expensive disappointment. Manchester City remain a formidable side, but their defeat to PSG demonstrated how costly individual mistakes can become at the highest level. For Semenyo, the challenge is no longer simply about producing impressive performances in domestic competition. He must improve his finishing, make smarter decisions in possession and develop a stronger understanding with Haaland. Unless he can turn those weaknesses around, criticism of his performances and transfer fee is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.