Cherki scores twice and calls his own first half 's***' as City demolish Palace 4-1

Rayan Cherki scored twice in the second half but still turned the air blue in a post-match interview, branding his own first-half performance “s***” after Manchester City swept Crystal Palace aside 4-1 at the Etihad on Friday night. Erling Haaland also grabbed two goals as Enzo Maresca made it back-to-back Premier League wins to open the season.

Cherki, who was briefly substituted before being sent back on, was candid about his frustration with himself. “We didn’t find the space in the first half; I played so s***!” he said. “When I saw Enzo wanted to change me, I didn’t like that! I need to show them that I want to play, I want to score, I want to give assists for Erling. Today I didn’t give a lot of balls for him, and next time I want to give him a lot of balls.”

Maresca was far more generous in his assessment, insisting the French playmaker’s contribution went well beyond the two goals. “His performance for me was very good — not because of the two goals, but the way he worked off the ball,” the City manager said. “He has to press. He was in charge when Palace had the ball. I think his game was a complete game, on the ball and off the ball.”

Maresca also spoke warmly about Cherki’s attitude as a factor in his rapid integration at the club. “First of all, he loves football, and so it’s much more easy to work with him,” he said. “We know how good he is. We know the quality that he has. In this moment, he is helping the team with the numbers in terms of assists and goals, and no doubt he is going to help the team also in the future.”

On City’s broader prospects, Maresca pointed to the team’s defensive work rate as the foundation for optimism. “I like the sacrifice or the desire off the ball,” he said. “Because if we are able to match the intensity, the desire of different opponents, I think with the quality we have, we can do something important.”

Off the pitch, Maresca confirmed that transfer activity remains ongoing. City are still pursuing Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez before the window closes, while Jack Grealish is attracting interest from both Everton and Sunderland. Maresca acknowledged the winger could leave within days, saying: “I had a chat with Jack yesterday. We see what’s happening in the next 48 to 72 hours.”

For Crystal Palace, the evening brought a double blow. Manager Pierre Sage was left “frustrated” by the scoreline and the manner of the defeat, but the more pressing concern was the confirmation that striker Jean-Philippe Mateta will miss around four weeks with an injury sustained in training two days before the match. “It’s crazy,” Sage said. “Maybe we’ve lost him for four weeks at least.” The timing may, however, complicate any potential departure for the unsettled forward before the transfer deadline.