Sealed with a kiss: Guardiola revels in Cherki starring role / Photo: Ben STANSALL - AFP
-
Faletau still in Tandy's plans despite being left out of Wales squad
-
Power outage hits Google Cloud services, disrupting UK banks
-
Stock markets retreat as oil rises again
-
AI challenges maths by solving the unsolvable
-
Those who profited from fund scandal 'identified': Turkish minister
-
Turkey troops to stay in Syria, Iraq 'until border security ensured', defence minister tells AFP
-
At half a century, Senegal's Orchestra Baobab bets on new generation
-
Kulusevski a 'different man' after emotional Spurs return
-
O'Connor, Sivakov join Seixas at Decathlon CMA CGM
-
Nawaz and Minhas lift Pakistan to 302-9 in England ODI
-
Faletau left out of Wales squad for Nations Championship
-
Mourinho warns no 'untouchable' stars at Real Madrid
-
Rubio says India diversifying oil, trade deal 'very close'
-
Indonesian anger builds over wildfires, toxic haze
-
Kemi Badenoch Proposes Ending Childcare Benefit Cliff Edge
-
Late Okafor Penalty Earns Alvechurch FA Cup Replay
-
More Than 52,000 West Midlands Families Use Tax-Free Childcare
-
Low-Cost Homemade Ideas Offer Alternatives for Halloween Costumes
-
Commanders Fear Serious Knee Injury for Terry McLaurin
-
Christiane Amanpour Plans CNN Departure After 43 Years
-
Rays Beat Guardians 7-3 to Secure World Series Place
-
Richard Riehle, Prolific Film and Television Actor, Dies at 78
-
Veteran Character Actor Richard Riehle Dies at 78
-
Unverified Kim Jong Un Rumours Put Kim Yo Jong Back in Focus
-
Hardik Pandya Meets Fan Who Walked 2,390 Kilometres Across India
-
Delhi Issues Dussehra Traffic Curbs and Diversions for October 20
-
Erling Haaland Buys Villa at Abu Dhabi’s Jacob & Co Beachfront Living
-
iQOO Neo 12 Set for October 28 China Launch With 144Hz Display
-
Analysts Stay Positive on Vedanta After Hindustan Zinc’s Strong Quarter
-
India Warns Unpaid Assessments Are Deepening UN Cash Strain
-
World Gold Council Sees Digital Gold Market Tripling by 2031
-
Agrograde Introduces AI Optical Sorter for Arecanut Processing
-
Industry Groups Outline Four Steps to Help Women Farmers Reach Markets
-
Paras Healthcare Raises ₹652.5 Crore From IPO Anchor Investors
-
Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Face Return of Very Heavy Rain
-
Gold Remains Under Pressure as Energy Inflation Clouds Rate Outlook
-
Tamil Nadu Adds 25 State-Funded Workdays for Eligible Rural Households
-
Brokerages See Eternal Extending Food Delivery and Quick-Commerce Gains
-
Tonbo Imaging IPO Draws Nearly 136 Times the Shares Offered
-
Marco Rubio Travels to India as Trade Talks Reach Difficult Stage
-
James Maddison Leads Tottenham to First League Victory of Season
-
Asian Technology Shares Slide as Investors Reassess AI Boom
-
October 20 Milestones Trace Decades of Kuwait’s Development
-
Yan Diomande Finds Form Before Real Madrid Faces Former Club Leipzig
-
Spain Housing Dispute Puts Landlords at Centre of Election Debate
-
Cali Biodiversity Fund Struggles After Raising Only $7,085
-
Qatar Prime Minister Opens Eighth Global Security Forum
-
Qatar Amir and Singapore Prime Minister Expand Bilateral Cooperation
-
US Midterms Put Control of Congress and Key States at Stake
-
Doha Debates Examines Who Should Set the Moral Rules for AI
Sealed with a kiss: 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 summer move from Lyon.
The supremely gifted 22-year-old has sometimes left Guardiola frustrated after over-elaborating when a simple pass would be the better option, but he 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 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 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 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."
H.Nasr--SF-PST
