French Pundit Walid Acherchour Delivers Brutal Verdict on Antoine Semenyo After Man City Defeat
Ghanaian winger Antoine Semenyo has come under intense criticism following Manchester City’s 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League on October 14, 2026.
French football analyst Walid Acherchour, known for his outspoken commentary on RMC’s After Foot, delivered a particularly harsh assessment of the Manchester City forward after the disappointing result at the Etihad Stadium.
Acherchour questioned Semenyo’s decision-making and passing during the match, using provocative language that quickly attracted attention on social media.
“This guy is NOT a footballer! It’s psychiatry, lock him up! He’s Joan of Arc, he hears voices. He sees players the rest of us don’t see… Passes to ghosts!” Acherchour declared.
He also questioned a particular early pass intended for Rayan Cherki, asking: “That early ball to Cherki… who are you seeing? Are we 13 on the pitch?!”
The analyst also noted that Semenyo received a rating of 6/10 from French sports newspaper L’Équipe.
Semenyo Faces Scrutiny After City’s Champions League Defeat
Manchester City endured a difficult opening against PSG, falling 3-0 behind by the 32nd minute.
Désiré Doué opened the scoring before Ousmane Dembélé doubled the visitors’ advantage. Vitinha then added a third goal, leaving City with a substantial deficit to overcome.
City improved after the break, with Erling Haaland scoring in the 53rd and 75th minutes to give the hosts hope of a comeback.
However, Maghnes Akliouche restored PSG’s two-goal cushion, securing a 4-2 victory for the reigning European champions.
Despite finishing with 27 shots and an expected goals figure of approximately 2.5, City struggled to convert their opportunities into goals.
Semenyo was among the attackers expected to make a difference, but his performance became a major talking point after the final whistle.
Missed Chances Frustrate the Ghanaian Winger
Semenyo started in an attacking lineup alongside Haaland, Cherki and Jérémy Doku.
Although he found promising positions and registered an individual expected goals figure of approximately 0.45, the Ghanaian forward failed to convert several opportunities. He also struck the crossbar during the contest.
The missed chances contributed to the frustration surrounding his display, particularly given City’s overall attacking output.
Speaking to CBS after the match, Semenyo admitted that he was disappointed with his finishing.
“I’m beating myself up a little bit at the moment from all the chances that I missed,” he said, while acknowledging the quality of the opposition.
His comments reflected the disappointment of a player who recognised that he had opportunities to influence the result but could not make the most of them.
High Expectations Following Manchester City Move
Semenyo, 26, joined Manchester City from Bournemouth in January 2026 for a reported transfer fee of between £64 million and £72 million.
Wearing the No. 42 shirt, he arrived at the Etihad after establishing himself as one of Bournemouth’s standout attacking players, earning recognition for his pace, direct running and goal threat.
He has scored regularly since joining City, including the winning goal in the previous season’s FA Cup final, and has become a regular option under manager Enzo Maresca.
However, a high-profile transfer to a club competing for major honours inevitably brings greater scrutiny, particularly during matches against elite European opposition.
Acherchour’s criticism focused on Semenyo’s decisions in possession and his execution in attacking situations. While the language was deliberately provocative, the underlying frustration centred on whether the winger made the right choices when City needed greater precision.
Walid Acherchour’s Outspoken Style Draws Attention
Acherchour is known for delivering passionate and colourful assessments of players and teams on After Foot and other football platforms.
His comments about Semenyo fit that outspoken style, using exaggeration to express frustration with the forward’s performance.
The criticism has generated debate among supporters, with some agreeing that Semenyo was ineffective in key moments while others point to City’s overall failure to convert chances against a strong PSG side.
City’s attacking statistics suggest they created opportunities, but their inability to finish clinically proved costly.
It remains important to distinguish Acherchour’s opinion from a definitive assessment of Semenyo’s overall ability. One difficult performance does not erase the contributions that helped establish the Ghanaian as a highly regarded Premier League attacker.
Can Semenyo Respond to the Criticism?
The defeat represents a setback for Manchester City, who will now look to recover and improve their performances in the Champions League.
For Semenyo, the immediate challenge is to turn his frustration into a stronger display in upcoming matches. His pace, movement and ability to threaten defenders remain important qualities, but improving his finishing and decision-making in decisive moments will be crucial.
Acherchour’s remarks have placed the Ghanaian international under the spotlight, but his response on the pitch will ultimately shape the conversation.
Whether the PSG match proves to be an isolated disappointment or exposes areas requiring improvement remains to be seen.
Esther Afriyie Kumah is the Digital Media & Operations Manager and a writer AL Media Sports, the sports division of AL Media Group. She specializes in sports journalism, content and video production, covering Premier League, Champions League, La Liga, and African football with in-depth match reports, tactical analysis, player ratings, and expert insights.