Sealed with a kiss: Guardiola revels in Cherki starring role / Photo: © AFP
-
Huge questions loom over Prince Harry's shock return to UK
-
From beach to Bulls: relaxed Tsunoda savours rare F1 drive
-
BYDFi Joins Coinfest Asia 2026, Connecting with Institutions, Builders and Traders in Bali
-
Prince Harry: key dates in life of returning UK royal
-
Max Verstappen: Natural-born winner
-
North Korea launches missiles, Seoul says, after Trump floats Kim meet
-
Van Dijk urges Liverpool to make amends for 'unacceptable' season
-
Oil jumps on Iran war tensions, offsetting bond yield fears
-
All Blacks replace Tuipulotu with Holland for Springboks Test
-
Germany identifies far-right suspect in deadly 1970 antisemitic attack
-
Rain delays start of second day's play in England-Pakistan opener
-
PrimeXBT Expands Swap-Free Trading to PXTrader 2.0
-
Russian strikes kill 16 in Kyiv, surrounding region
-
Record number of locations in France top 40C over summer: AFP analysis
-
'It is tough': Indonesia battles wildfires, bracing for worse to come
-
Trump pledges 'economic warfare' on Iran, prompting Tehran derision
-
Seoul detects North Korean missile launches after Trump says to meet Kim
-
'Girl with a Pearl Earring' in Japan, perhaps for the last time
-
Thai, Myanmar military chiefs meet as post-coup thaw progresses
-
Russian strikes kill 13 in Kyiv, surrounding region
-
Asian stocks rally as US Treasury steps in to ease bond fears
-
'Simply lovely': Verstappen signs new Red Bull contract until 2030
-
Verstappen signs new Red Bull contract until 2030: team
-
Australia coach Walters heading to St Helens after World Cup
-
What property giant Evergrande's sentence means for China's economy
-
China jails founder, fines disgraced property giant Evergrande
-
Australian prosecutors demand life in prison for mushroom killer
-
Russian strikes kill 12 in Kyiv, surrounding region
-
Fallout far-reaching for Australian Rules after latest scandal
-
US India ambassador's Kashmir remarks rile Pakistan; envoy summoned
-
Rafts on Rome's Tiber River cool down overheated tourists
-
In Senegal's Saint-Louis, traces of slave-trading past fade away
-
Top seeds Sabalenka, Zverev stunned in Cincinnati fourth round
-
Russian strikes kill 9 in Kyiv, surrounding region
-
Australia says relations with Israel 'difficult' after aid worker death
-
Messi scores first goal since father's death in Miami draw
-
PSG start Ligue 1 defence with eye on Champions League hat-trick
-
Mercedes and Max: What to watch as F1 returns for Dutch GP
-
Arsenal can become world's best club: Arteta
-
'People, not robots': Ukraine's soldiers justify human role amid drone revolution
-
Japan's King Kazu, 59, scores twice from spot to make cup history
-
North Sea drilling tests UK govt climate pledge
-
Kyiv's desperate vendors persevere outside obliterated flea market
-
'Ray of hope': Gaza seed bank rebuilds after wartime destruction
-
Australia races to shield little penguins from H5N1 bird flu
-
Mourinho begins second Real Madrid reign with Barca in his sights
-
Messi scores first goal since father's death
-
'More confrontational': Iran's new hardline security leadership
-
US national debt exceeds $40 trillion for first time
-
UK summons Israeli envoy over West Bank settlement project
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."
G.Schulte--BTB
