Enzo Maresca praised Rayan Cherki’s performance in Manchester City’s 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Friday. Cherki, who was frustrated by being left out of the starting lineup in the previous match, responded with a strong showing, scoring two goals and providing assists.
Maresca noted Cherki’s work rate alongside his playmaking ability, stating, “His performance off the ball was unbelievable. Everyone knows his quality but when he works hard off the ball… 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.” Maresca also highlighted Cherki’s dedication, adding, “I think he was very, very good off the ball and was working very hard.”
Cherki himself assessed his performance as “so-so,” acknowledging he didn’t play to his full potential in the first half. “I need to show them I want to play, I want to score. Next time I want to give the ball around more,” he said.
The match saw Erling Haaland score twice, with an own goal from Gianluigi Donnarumma briefly leveling the score after Haaland’s initial opener. Maresca expressed satisfaction with the team’s combative display, particularly after a difficult start on a challenging pitch. “After 10 minutes we controlled the game on the ball and off the ball and deserved to win. The intensity on the team has been good,” he said.
Cherki, who previously played under Pep Guardiola, sees this as a new beginning. “Pep was a big story. We will start another story,” he stated. “We want to prove it and we are here for that.” Maresca emphasized the importance of Haaland’s form, saying, “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.”
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