A magician and a maverick - this could be Cherki's moment for Man City
After two goals and a swaggering display against Crystal Palace, Phil McNulty asks if this is Rayan Cherki's time to shine for Manchester City.
Rayan Cherki's unapologetic honesty about his first-half performance at Crystal Palace caught the attention of Manchester City fans and pundits alike. The 23-year-old France attacker was instrumental in the 4-1 victory, netting two stunning goals in the second half to seal the win. Cherki, who had previously struggled to make an impact under Pep Guardiola, has proven himself under new manager Enzo Maresca.
His work ethic off the ball was also highly praised, with Maresca noting that Cherki controlled Adam Wharton and was a key asset for the team. The England international, however, had a disappointing World Cup with France and was once criticized by Didier Deschamps. Despite this, Cherki's performance against Palace demonstrated his talent and potential, earning him a starting spot and cementing his place as a crucial player for City.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Sport Football's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.