Jeremy Doku is lifting the lid on his red-hot form for Manchester City, and the message is clear: he hasn't changed who he is as a player—he's just finally seeing the results.

The 23-year-old Belgian winger insists he has "always been an instinct player," and his recent surge in attacking output is simply the natural payoff for sticking to his guns. After scoring the opener in City's 3-0 victory over Brentford at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday—a goal he dedicated to his father on his 60th birthday—Doku made it clear that nothing has fundamentally shifted in his game.

"I've always played like this, instinct. Now the goals are coming. Now people are going to say, 'Wow!'. But I haven't been a different player," Doku told BBC Radio Manchester after the match.

The timing couldn't be better for City. After dropping crucial points against Everton in their previous outing, Pep Guardiola's side bounced back in style, moving to within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal. With a trophy already secured, a final on the horizon, and a title race still very much alive, Doku believes City are in the "best position" possible for a season-defining finish.

What's driving this late-season surge? Doku points to a subtle but important mindset shift: he's been working on being more selfish in front of goal. It's a lesson he took to heart after the FA Cup semi-final, and it's paying dividends now. Guardiola has echoed this sentiment, noting that Doku's growth isn't about changing his identity but about maturing in how he applies his natural gifts. The City boss recently described the former Rennes star as "amazing this season," emphasizing that the young winger now understands his impact goes beyond winning one-on-one duels.

For fans watching a player who has always been electric on the ball, this new-found end product is a thrilling development. Doku is proving that sometimes, the best transformation is no transformation at all—just the patience to let instinct do its work.