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Haaland and Cherki fire impressive Man City to victory at Palace
Chief football writer at Selhurst ParkPublished8 minutes agoRayan Cherki refuses to hide his emotions, an open book for all to see and hear in times of joy and disappointment.
Moments after Manchester City had put down their first heavyweight marker of the post-Pep Guardiola era by brushing aside Crystal Palace, he was asked live on TV how much he enjoyed the game. Rather than providing the usual textbook answer, he instead gave a colourfully uncomplimentary – and unprintable - description of his own first-half performance.
Erling Haaland, standing alongside Cherki as he waited to hand over the player-of-the-match award, could only laugh at the France attacker's sweary honesty.
Indeed, the 23-year-old also refuses to hide his talent, making a nonsense of his self-criticism by unveiling a Selhurst Park masterclass with two brilliant second-half goals in the 4-1 victory.
Cherki made his impact under Guardiola last season, although there was always a feeling the mercurial signing from Lyon for a bargain £30m could produce more. He made 33 Premier League appearances - but 14 of those were as a substitute.
And there is a sense that he already has something to prove under new boss Enzo Maresca amid City's vast attacking resources, coming off the bench to assist the two late goals that gave them victory against Bournemouth on the opening weekend.
Cherki was seen in animated conversation with Maresca after the final whistle, but his reward was a start at Selhurst Park and he delivered the sort of irresistible performance he, as well as City, needed.
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There were also videos that emerged with Cherki showing apparent displeasure at coach Didier Deschamps.
Cherki has a reputation for unpredictability, with Maresca saying after his contribution against Bournemouth that "if he is not happy he wants to show it".
But, though he has proved hard to please in the past at Leicester City and Chelsea, Maresca was satisfied with Cherki here.
"He's happy and I'm happy," said Maresca. "It was not just his performance with the two goals, but his work off the ball.
"He pressed and gave us a complete performance on the ball and off the ball.
"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."
Image source, BBC SportImage caption, Rayan Cherki was absolutely everywhere against Crystal Palace
It was not just Cherki's wizardry with the ball that impressed Maresca, but his work off it.
"His performance off the ball was unbelievable," he added to BBC Match of the Day. "Everyone knows his quality but when he works hard off the ball, he was in charge of Adam Wharton. He controlled him. He was very good."
Praise indeed as the outstanding Wharton is one of the players City have cast their eyes over as they try to strengthen Maresca's squad before the close of the transfer window.
For all the team work that brought such praise from Maresca, it was the two moments of individual genius that will be remembered after a win and performance that suggested talk that City will inevitably go into decline after the departure of Guardiola has been greatly exaggerated.
He also produced those defining moments at crucial times, the first coming nine minutes into the second half with City leading 1-0 and Palace hoping to mount a recovery.
Cherki took Phil Foden's pass on the edge of the area, embarking on a slalom run surrounded by four Palace defenders, leaving them helpless before poking a left-foot finish past keeper Dean Henderson.
He celebrated with a touch of arrogance that is so often the preserve of the special ones, staring down the Palace fans on the Holmesdale Road end.
And after Palace pulled one back, it was Cherki who once again restored that two-goal advantage with a rising right-foot shot from 20 yards past Henderson.
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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 difference because his goals came at an important time. He is a genius. 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 be Manchester City fans from a previous generation who'll remember him, who could get past people in a telephone 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 bargain at £30m and gives you a new dimension. He gives you that 'X-factor'. He does things differently.
Cherki's goal celebrations summed up his confidence and attitude, with Redknapp saying: "There was a bit of Cantona about him. He's a beautiful player. With someone like Cherki you've got to let him do his thing."
There may be ups and downs between the maverick Cherki and the demanding Maresca, but the France star with stardust in his boots showed he will not be pushed to the back of the queue among City's array of attacking talent – with perhaps more to come before the deadline.
And that is good news for Maresca as he tried to build on the foundations left behind by Guardiola.
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