Highlights: Cherki hits late winner to help Man City overcome Nottingham Forest
Video credit: TNT Sports
Following a goalless opening period, it was Cherki who took it upon himself to light up a gloomy City Ground, slipping in Tijjani Reijnders to slide a low first-time finish under Forest goalkeeper John Victor.
John was then forced into an outstanding save to keep it at 1-0 shortly after, when the Brazilian tipped Cherki’s shot onto the post, but after Omari Hutchinson’s leveller, it was only fitting that Cherki would settle the contest with a brilliant finish from the edge of the box.
“He’s the main man of the moment,” Hart told TNT Sports. “All the talk was about (Jeremy) Doku at the start of the season, but Cherki has really come into his own. He is so effective that it is the biggest compliment you can pay someone with super talent like him.
“He can light a game up with tricks and flicks, but he’s also had the big moments like he has today. He’s adapted to Premier League football so well. Today, he’s been up for the battle, and when he’s needed to show quality, he has. It was an excellent performance.”
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‘Brilliant from Manchester City’ – Reijnders breaks the deadlock against Nottingham Forest
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This was at times a real battle for Pep Guardiola’s side, and the euphoric scenes at full-time underlined the sense of relief felt by the visitors.
“Look at the way they’re celebrating,” Hart continued. “City know they’ve had a tough afternoon today. It was a brilliant Premier League game of football.
“It was an absolute battle, and it was a championship-winning performance. When your back is against the wall, you find a way. Cherki really stood up today, Reijnders with a good first goal, but that second one has brought a massive three points for Manchester City.
On Cherki’s winning strike, Hart added: “It’s a brilliant finish. He does so well to go over the top of the ball and go through Gibbs-White’s legs. Such an excellent finish. He’s so balanced on both feet.”
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‘Its gone in’ – Cherki puts City back in front against Forest
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Cole analyses the ‘genius’ of Cherki
In just 644 minutes of Premier League football this season, Cherki has provided seven assists and scored two goals.
It was only at the start of November that Guardiola elected to field him in tandem with Phil Foden as two No. 10s behind Erling Haaland, but Cherki is now almost the first name on his team sheet.
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‘I can’t believe what I’m watching’ – Dyche rages at referee decisions
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Joe Cole told TNT Sports: “Cherki had no space in the first half and couldn’t operate. As a player, it is all about how you can manipulate space.
“Elliot Anderson was forced to come out to Gvardiol (ahead of the first City goal), and for the first time, Cherki had a bit of space in behind.
“But the genius of him is that he makes two steps just in order to receive the ball. He receives it then off the back foot, and then it’s all about the quality of the run in behind from Reijnders. Cherki was superb in the second half as he was operating in inches to make the difference.
“He’s a real great watch. I’ve been in games like that, and Sean Dyche did well to get both Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White to block the lanes. You could see he was frustrated, popping up on the right and left. When that bit of space was afforded to him, he made it look easy.”
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‘The mentality was unbelievable’ – Guardiola hails Man City after late win
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No player has provided more assists in the Premier League this season, with his seven only matched by Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes.
The France international had not actually found the net in the top flight since the opening day of the season against Wolves, but it was his strike which secured Guardiola a sixth successive league victory.
Erling Haaland and Phil Foden were both kept at bay, but the re-emergence of Reijnders and Cherki as goal contributors illustrates the potency at City’s disposal across their attacking line.
Player of the Match Cherki copied Haaland’s celebration in front of the travelling supporters and told TNT Sports: “When the games come, we need just one thing: to win. We take the points because the championship is so long and so hard, so today is a big win.
“The next game is very important for us, and we are ready. It’s good for the team because the game was not simple. I am very proud of the team because the championship is so long, and the win is for them, so we need to enjoy.”
