Manchester City star Rayan Cherki was the hero after a pair of stunning goals within five minutes led his team to an emphatic 4-1 win over Crystal Palace.
City’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season continued at Selhurst Park, with Cherki and superstar striker Erling Haaland each netting a brace.
And it seemed the only person with anything to criticise about the Frenchman’s performance was himself, revealing after the match he had nearly been subbed out at half time by new manager Enzo Maresca.
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“My performance is so-so,” he told Sky Sports alongside Haaland.
“In the first half, we didn’t find the space, I played so s**t.
“When I see Enzo wants to change me, I don’t like that. I need to show them I want to play, I want to score, I want to give assists for Erling.
“Next time I want to give the ball around more.”
Cherki first made Palace pay in the 54th minute, when Phil Foden’s driving run teed up an opportunity for the Frenchman to slalom past three Palace defenders before applying the finishing touch to a sublime move as he slotted into the far corner for a 2-0 lead.
Minutes later, after Palace earned a lifeline when Yeremy Pino’s free-kick hit the post and rebounded into the net off goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’s back, Cherki extinguished Palace’s revival by unleashing a fierce strike from the edge of the area that fizzed into the back of the net.
But speaking after the match, Cherki was modest about his stunning brace – much to Haland’s amusement.
“When Erling (Haaland) don’t give the ball, I give, and then after it’s my instinct, you know?” Cherki said.
“And I’m very happy for the win today.”
“Say what you actually mean – you scored two top goals!” Haaland interrupted.
“Nah, nah, nah, that is nothing,” Cherki replied.
Maresca had just as much praise for the 23-year old for his “unbelievable” performance.
The City boss admitted Cherki was frustrated to be left out of the starting line-up for last weekend’s 2-1 win against Bournemouth in their Premier League opener.
The France midfielder responded to the snub in emphatic style.
He came off the bench to provide a pair of assists against Bournemouth and seized his chance to start at Selhurst Park with a masterful display that underlined his qualities.
Maresca praised the way that Cherki combined his playmaking brilliance with the task of subduing Palace midfielder Adam Wharton.
“His performance off the ball was unbelievable. Everyone knows his quality but when he works hard off the ball,” Maresca said.
“He was in charge of Wharton, he controlled him. He’s helping us and is going to help in the future. We know he’s a quality player.
“I think he was very, very good off the ball and was working very hard.”
Cherki insisted his impressive display was still far from his top level.
His flamboyant antics on the pitch and volatile personality off it led to reports that Pep Guardiola was unconvinced by the former Lyon star last season.
But with Guardiola having left at the end of last term, Cherki hopes to emerge as one of the figureheads of the new era under Mareca.
“I’m very happy for the win. Pep was a big story. We will start another story,” he said.
“We want to prove it and we are here for that.” City have made a strong start under Maresca and the former Chelsea boss was pleased with their combative display against Palace.
“Probably the first five or 10 minutes we saw how difficult it was. It’s a difficult pitch and tough opponents,” he said.
“After 10 minutes we controlled the game on the ball and off the ball and deserved to win.
“The intensity on the team has been good.”
If City are to dethrone champions Arsenal this season, Maresca knows they will need Haaland at his predatory best.
“We know Erling. We know when we make chances it’s good for him. We try to create chances for him as much as we can,” he said.
“It’s important to start the right way with a new manager. Big change. You can see at the end of the game how happy the fans were.
“Happy that we get the three points. There are always things that we can do better.”