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Unbelievable Cherki Maresca salutes ‘unbelievable’ Frenchman after City star sinks Palace, Haaland strikes again

ENZO MARESCA hailed Rayan Cherki’s “unbelievable” per formance in Manchester City’s 4-1 thrashing of Crystal Palace yesterday. City boss Maresca admitted Cherki was frustrated to be left out of the starting line-up for last weekend’s 2-1 win against Bournemouth in their Premier League opener. The France midfielder responded to the snub in emphatic style. He came off the bench to pro vide a pair of assists against Bournemouth and seized his chance to start at Selhurst Park with a masterful display that underlined his qualities. The 23-year-old bagged a brace after an own goal from City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma had can celled out Erling Haaland’s opener in rainy south London. Haaland struck again in the closing stages to cap City’s sec ond successive victory under Maresca. Maresca praised the way that Cherki combined his playmak ing brilliance with the task of subduing Palace midfielder Adam Wharton. “His performance off the ball was unbelievable. Everyone knows his quality but when he works hard off the ball,” Maresca said. “He was in charge of Wharton, he controlled him. He’s helping us and is going to help in the future. We know he’s a quality player. “I think he was very, very good off the ball and was working very hard. “Rayan is Rayan. We know him. He loves football and it makes it so much easier to work with him. “The quality he has in this moment helps the team, not just with assists but goals.” Cherki insisted his impressive display was still far from his top level. “My performance is so-so. In the first half, we didn’t find the space, I played bad,” he said. “I need to show them I want to play, I want to score. Next time I want to give the ball around more.”

win. Pep was a big story. We will start another story,” he said. “We want to prove it and we are here for that.” City have made a strong start under Maresca and the former Chelsea boss was pleased with their combative display against Palace. “Probably the first five or 10 minutes we saw how difficult it was. It’s a difficult pitch and tough opponents,” he said. “After 10 minutes we con trolled the game on the ball and off the ball and deserved to win. The intensity on the team has been good.” Former England midfielder Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports : “After (Rayan) Cherki painted a masterpiece, City started to play and got a real hold of it. “Cherki felt like the differ ence because his goals came at an important time. He is a gen ius. The things he can do with a football are absolute genius. “There aren’t many Premier League players I’ve seen that can do this on the first goal. “Eden Hazard possibly, he was that kind of player. Georgi Kinkladze, there’ll

Cherki’s flamboyant antics on the pitch and volatile personal ity off it led to reports that Pep Guardiola was unconvinced by the former Lyon star last season. With Guardiola hav ing left at the end of last term, Cherki hopes to emerge as

Man City’s Rayan Cherki (left) and Erling Haaland celebrate after their team’s win Premier League at the Selhurst Park yesterday. – AFPPIC over Crystal Palace in the

one of the figureheads of the new era under Maresca. “I’m very happy for the

be Manchester City fans from a previous gen eration who’ll remem ber him, who could get past people in a tele phone box. This was very similar. “Once Cherki is in the box, they are so scared to touch him. It’s absolute genius. “He’s an absolute bar

gain and gives you a new dimension. He gives you that ‘X-factor’. He does things differently.” If City are to dethrone cham pions Arsenal this season, Maresca knows they will need Haaland at his predatory best. “We know Erling. We know when we make chances it’s good for him. We try to create chances for him as much as we can,” he said. “It’s important to start the right way with a new manager. Big change. “You can see at the end of the game how happy the fans were. “Happy that we get the three points. There are always things that we can do better.” – AFP/Agencies

“Rayan is Rayan. We know him. He loves football …”

Man City boss Enzo Maresca

No snub, says NSC - page 15

Perfect start - page 13

Reds agree Barcola deal - page 14

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