29/12/2025

SPORTS MONDAY | DEC 29, 2025

30

Guardiola revels in Cherki starring role

PEP GUARDIOLA is so smitten by Rayan Cherki that the Manchester City boss said he wanted to kiss the “incredible” French star after his virtuoso performance in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest. Cherki is fast emerging as City’s most influential playmaker in his first season in Manchester following a move from Lyon. The supremely gifted 22-year-old has sometimes left Guardiola frustrated after over elaborating when a simple pass would clearly be the better option, but he consistantly showcased his dazzling skill to great effect at the City Ground. Cherki set up Tijjani Reijnders’ second half opener with a perfectly weighted pass and then drilled City’s clinical late winner from just

his rebuilding work over the last 12 months. “I know the memory is weak but when we won the six Premier Leagues, these types of games have a lot, so this is a massive three points,” he said. “Mainly for the quality of the opposition. Sean Dyche has created a proper team. It’s a top, top side. “It’s much more important how you suffer and defend and accept you are not playing good and accept you can be better. Otherwise there is no chance. Last season that game is lost 10 for 10.” – AFP

after the final whistle. Guardiola’s side were far from their best against gritty Forest, making the battling nature of their victory meaningful for the Spaniard. They often flopped in similar situations last season, including a 1-0 loss at the City Ground in March. And Guardiola admitted his side would have crumbled under the weight of Forest’s aggressive game-plan last term. Instead, they are firmly in the hunt for a title that would rank among Guardiola’s finest after

inside the area after Omari Hutchinson had levelled for Forest. “I want to allow him to express his incredible talent. We have to play better from the back so he can get more balls from that position. The second half was a little bit better,” Guardiola said. “There are moments I shout at him and there are moments I want to kiss him.” City’s sixth successive win in the Premier League sparked a jubilant response from Guardiola, who was serenaded by City’s travelling fans as he celebrated in front of them

‘Special’ Wirtz Germany international has to build on breakthrough Liverpool goal, says Slot

6067/2025

28/12/2025 (SUN)

Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz celebrates after scoring the second goal during yesterday’s Premier League match against Wolves at Anfield. – AFPPIC

9587 9642 2973

Draw Date: 28/12/25 (Sun)

Draw No: 6014/25 Venue: WISMA GENTING, KL

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RM344,432.10

Ű BY CARL MARKHAM

just this one. “But I also liked his performance during large parts of the game today, I think he was special in a lot of moments.” It was an emotional afternoon for two former clubs of Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash in July alongside his brother Andre Silva. Jota’s two sons, plus two other young members of the family, were part of the pre-match presentation as they walked out with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Wolves’ Portuguese goalkeeper Jose Sa, watched by Jota’s wife Rute. “Difficult but in a way also special and nice. The football world showed how to behave in moments like this,” added Slot. “Our fans have been incredible since the tragedy happened until today. Every single moment they did what you would hope they do in memory of him. “Today the away fans showed it is not only about our fans. You guys know how special English fans are and today we showed to the world.” Despite a spirited second half, Wolves slipped to an 11th-successive defeat and are the first Premier League club to fail to win any of their opening 18 fixtures. “It is another loss so it is difficult,” said boss Rob Edwards, who has failed to arrest the slide, having taken over seven matches ago. “I said to the lads, ‘I am getting really fed up of this’ and I know they are hurting as well but I will watch the game back, take some of the emotion out of it and feel some of the good stuff as well. “The second half, there was a team that was brave and showed quality against a top team.” – The Independent

A RNE SLOT admitted Florian Wirtz knows he has to kick-on from his breakthrough goal but the Liverpool head coach was more than happy with the playmaker’s “special” performance in his side’s 2-1 win over Wolves. A week after recording his first Premier League assist, the Germany international – who was signed in a £116 million (RM672m) deal – followed up by scoring 89 seconds after Ryan Gravenberch’s opener. The 22-year-old was the stand-out player in a team performance which went from dominant in the first half to nervous and shaky when Hugo Bueno reduced the deficit after the interval, having exposed a continued weakness at set pieces. “I think I am quite sure it was a relief for him,” said Slot of Wirtz. “I could see with his reaction when he scored the goal and it was the same with his teammates, they were really happy for him. “In football, rightly so maybe, we mainly get judged on results and individuals mainly get judged on goals and assists and we sometimes forget what else is there to do during a game. “I think he has had multiple good games for us but I also think he is getting better every game he plays for us. “He is getting fitter and fitter and was getting closer and closer to his first goal and it is not a surprise he scored today. “He will be the first to understand that one goal is not enough so hopefully he will score many more goals for us than

RM271,388.80

669 008+ BOAR

RM740,000.00

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