Pep Guardiola has encouraged Rayan Cherki to take inspiration from Lionel Messi following the young French forward’s remarkable assist during Manchester City‘s 3-0 victory over Sunderland.
Cherki’s rabona cross set up the final goal for Phil Foden, helping City close in on Premier League leaders Arsenal, trailing by just two points.
His stunning display earned cheers from fans at the Etihad Stadium, particularly when the highlight was shown on the big screens.
This performance was the pinnacle of a man-of-the-match outing for Cherki, who joined the club this summer for £30 million ($40m) from Lyon.
“Rayan is an exceptional talent,” Guardiola remarked. “At such a young age, he possesses a remarkable personality.
“In the attacking third, he has something truly special. What impresses me most about Rayan isn’t just his skills; I’ve never seen Messi deliver a cross like he did.
“Messi is undeniably the greatest player, but those types of crosses are quite rare. Whether the cross comes from the right or left or whichever part of the foot doesn’t matter as long as it’s effective. What I appreciate is simplicity, something I learned from Messi – I’ve never gone wrong with the basics.”
City’s triumph over Sunderland was confirmed shortly after Arsenal dropped points against Aston Villa, with Emi Buendia scoring a dramatic stoppage-time winner.
The goal, scored at the last moment of the match at Villa Park, elicited huge cheers from City supporters watching the game in the concourses while players warmed up at the Etihad.
“Being closer to the top of the league is beneficial, but based on my experience, it’s about consistency,” Guardiola continued. “Consistency is derived from the nature of your play, not just the results or being two points ahead or four points behind.
“It’s about how you perform and how much you progress. Today was one of the best performances we’ve had all year over the full 94 minutes.”