Rayan Cherki made a point to Enzo Maresca as the Manchester City star’s superb double prompted a 4-1 defeat of Crystal Palace yesterday. Joining Football Leagues.
City boss Maresca acknowledged Cherki was angry at being kept out of the starting line-up for last weekend’s 2-1 triumph at Bournemouth in their Premier League debut.
AFP says that the France playmaker replied in style to the snub.
He came off the bench to chip in with a couple of assists against Bournemouth and took his chance to start at Selhurst Park with a masterclass that showed his skills.
Some of his more flashy exploits on the pitch in his debut season at City last term upset Pep Guardiola and questions linger about the former Lyon midfielder’s ability to adhere to a team-first mindset.
But Cherki’s talent is obvious and he demonstrated it with a brace after City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’s own goal cancelled out Erling Haaland’s opening in wet south London.
Haaland added another in the final stages to complete City’s dominant display as the Norway striker scored his first goals since chopping off his iconic blond hair for a close-cropped style last week. Joining Football Leagues
A juvenile Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, purchased from Lille for £86m ($116m) this week, was substituted onto the pitch for his debut in the closing minutes in a preview of what City believe would be a bright future beyond Guardiola.
Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol scored in the final minutes to help City come from behind to overcome Bournemouth in the first league game of the post-Guardiola era.
But with Cherki in the flow and Haaland in lethal mood, there was no need to get into any last-gasp dramatics versus Palace.
It was Palace’s second defeat on the spin under new boss Pierre Sage, who took over from Oliver Glasner in the summer.
Cherki Signs for Dazzling Leagues Soccer
Maresca played Guehi out of position as a midfielder against Bournemouth, but shifted the England international into his natural centre-back role against his former team.
Elliot Anderson bounced back from a dismal debut against Bournemouth and Nico O’Reilly did a fine job of filling the center midfield slot.
Anderson should have scored his first for City as a corner led to a goalmouth scramble, the midfielder and Haaland having attempts blocked.
Haaland made up for that in his usual predatory style in the 17th minute.
Haaland climbed above the Palace defence to meet a wonderfully flighted cross from Antoine Semenyo and direct a spectacular header over Eagles keeper Dean Henderson.
Phil Foden missed the chance to put City two up, the forward scuffing wide from a ball by Anderson.
Moments later he compounded his earlier mistake by miscuing his header after Cherki had spotted him inside the six-yard box.
Cherki hit a low shot that Henderson saved just before half-time.
Palace striker Eddie Nketiah spared City’s blushes with a wild finish just after the interval.
Cherki then seized command and made Palace pay in the 54th minute.
Foden’s run and pass found Cherki who wove his way past three Palace players before completing off a wonderful move by sliding the ball into the far corner. Join Football Leagues
But Palace felt they had a lifeline two minutes later when Yeremy Pino’s free-kick struck the post and spun into the net off Donnarumma’s back.
Cherki ended Palace’s rally in the 59th minute, blasting a ferocious shot from the edge of the box that fizzed past Henderson’s out-stretched hand.
Haaland completed the demolition in the 84th minute, driving past Henderson from an acute angle after Foden’s ball sliced through the Palace defence.
About the Author
