Manchester City defied the odds on Wednesday night to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League automatically
Rayan Cherki celebrates as Manchester City defeat Galatasaray 2-0 to secure their spot in the knockout stages of the Champions League
Rayan Cherki celebrates as Manchester City defeat Galatasaray 2-0 to secure their spot in the knockout stages of the Champions League
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Manchester City forward Rayan Cherki dismissed the suggestion his team were frustrated at having to rely on other results to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League. City went into the final matchday in the competition needing to win and hoping teams above them did not to advance.
City managed to do their job comfortably as Erling Haaland's chip followed by a Cherki strike sealed a 2-0 win over Galatasaray. However, the wait was on to see if they would make it into the top eight. With Barcelona, Sporting and Chelsea all winning their matches, the odds looked stacked against City.
However, PSG and Newcastle drawing at the Parc des Princes, coupled with Real Madrid's dramatic 4-2 defeat to Benfica meant City squeezed through to the knockouts in eighth position. They will now face either Real Madrid, Benfica, Inter Milan or Bodo/Glimt in the last 16 of the competition.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Cherki insisted the unknowing on the final matchday did not concern himself or his teammates. He said: "We don’t have frustration because the season is very long and we have time to win all the games. Now we have a lot of time for a reset and we will then see the placement."
Guardiola opted for a fluid forward line on Wednesday night with Cherki, Bernardo Silva, Omar Marmoush and Jeremy Doku all free to roam into different positions behind the lone striker Erling Haaland. When asked about this, the Frenchman made his feelings clear.
"Yeah of course, all the players love when the manager does this system because we have a lot of players inside so for us, it is very good," he said before adding: "Very good team, we do a good game, we win and that is very important for us.
"I am very, very proud. I play for a top club and I am very happy to be here."
Since joining City in the summer, Cherki has enjoyed a brilliant start to his career at the Etihad Stadium. He has so far notched eight goals and nine assists in all competitions.