Cherki's two-goal burst rescues City's half-time crisis in 4-1 rout of Palace

Rayan Cherki talked his way off the substitution list at half-time on Saturday, then backed up his words with a match-winning performance as Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 4-1 at Selhurst Park to make it two wins from two under Enzo Maresca.

The 23-year-old Frenchman had struggled to find space in a congested first half and admitted Maresca was ready to hook him at the break. Cherki pleaded for more time — and delivered almost immediately after the restart, scoring twice in quick succession to give City a control they never relinquished.

“When I see the coach want to change me, I’m not happy with that,” Cherki said. “I understand because I don’t play well in the first half. I need to show him that I’m here to help the team. I said ‘Enzo, give me five minutes and I’ll show you’. Just that.”

Cherki credited the tactical adjustment at the break for unlocking the game. Palace had shut down the central channels throughout the first half, but City found room on the flanks in the second. “When I take more freedom in the second half, it was much better,” he said. “It’s like a boxing match. We see, we feel and we feel where is the space.”

The result follows a similar pattern to City’s previous league outing, where Cherki came off the bench against Bournemouth to contribute two assists and turn that match around. Maresca had publicly noted his frustration at Cherki not starting that game — a dynamic that appears to be fuelling the player’s intensity early in the season.

Cherki was effusive about working under the new head coach, who took over from Pep Guardiola in the summer. “We love to play. It’s the identity of Manchester City,” he said. “Enzo is a very, very big coach. We feel when we train, we feel he knows a lot. We want to work with him. We want to win with him.”

The positive start on the pitch comes as City remain active in the transfer market. Palmeiras winger Allan is expected to join, with Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez also anticipated. Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye and Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo are among the attacking options under consideration, as part of a total outlay that could surpass £450 million and break the British transfer record.