At halftime of Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest yesterday, it was clear that Manchester City would need a player to step up and be a match-winner. Nottingham Forest had stifled City’s attacking play with a determined and strong defensive display in the first half of yesterday’s match. After halftime, Rayan Cherki stepped up to be the match-winner for Pep Guardiola’s side. Cherki grabbed an assist when he set up Tijjani Reijnders’ opening goal yesterday. He also scored the crucial winner in the 83rd minute of yesterday’s match. City needed a player to take hold of yesterday’s match, and it was Rayan Cherki who stepped up yesterday.
Rayan Cherki helped lift Manchester City to a huge win yesterday against Nottingham Forest.
Manchester City needed someone to break open Nottingham Forest’s well-organised defence yesterday. It was Rayan Cherki who did exactly that. His pass to set up Tijjani Reijnders opening goal yesterday was sublime. Cherki spotted the run of Reijnders and he played a sumptuous ball that split open the Nottingham Forest defence and Cherki’s pass allowed Reijnders to hit the ball first time with his left foot to beat Forest keeper John Victor. That pass was a perfect encapsulation of Rayan Cherki’s playmaking ability. He can break open a game at any moment and he did exactly that in the 48th minute of yesterday’s match.
Making the breakthrough 🙅♂️
@T_Reijnders 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/k6P701sCzM
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 27, 2025
After Omari Hutchinson equalised for Nottingham Forest in the 54th minute of yesterday’s match, Manchester City needed someone to conjure a winning goal at The City Ground. It was Rayan Cherki who would provide the game’s defining moment yesterday. A Phil Foden corner was headed down to Cherki by Josko Gvardiol at the backpost. Cherki unleashed a stinging right-footed shot on goal that beat Morgan Gibbs-White and John Victor to settle yesterday’s match. Cherki’s goal was the key moment in a massive win for Manchester City. Again, when City needed someone to lift them, it was Cherki who stepped up in Manchester City’s time of need.
Rayan Cherki is making a huge impression at City.
Manchester City knew what they were getting when they signed Rayan Cherki from Lyon last summer. They were getting one of the premier creative players in Europe. But as Manchester City have embarked on an eight-match winning run in all competitions, Cherki has also shown that he is a player who thrives in key moments and situations. Couple those traits with Cherki’s talent, and the French international is making quite the impression at Manchester City. Cherki is a key cog in the City machine, and his rise to prominence has perhaps come a lot quicker than expected.
Pep Guardiola revealed after yesterday’s match that at times he wants to shout at Cherki, and on other occasions he wants to kiss the French international. Yesterday’s second-half display from Cherki would fall into the second category. It was a match-winning display from Cherki and in the end, he helped lift City to a huge win against a tough opponent at a tough venue to play at.
💙🪄 Pep Guardiola on Rayan Cherki: “The moments I shout him and the moments I want to kiss him!”. 😁@BeanymanSports 🎥 pic.twitter.com/DPZlCBr5jr
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 27, 2025
Rayan Cherki put in a virtuoso display in the second half of Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest. The French international stepped up when his team needed a hero and his performance lifted his team in a critical match. Cherki has quickly become an integral player for Pep Guardiola’s side and his ability to step up in big moments makes him an even more dangerous proposition for Manchester City’s opponents to contend with.