Jamie Redknapp could not contain his admiration for Rayan Cherki after the French winger netted a brace that helped Manchester City overturn a 1-0 deficit and claim a 4-1 triumph over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. While Erling Haaland opened the scoring and added the final goal, it was Cherki’s two second‑half strikes that truly shifted the momentum in City’s favour. Redknapp described the first of Cherki’s goals as a piece of art.
The young forward weaved his way through a compact Palace defence, gliding past opponents with balletic footwork before delicately poking the ball into the net. "Rayan Cherki painted a masterpiece," the former England midfielder told Sky Sports, adding that the goal arrived at a crucial juncture and changed the complexion of the match. "It was an incredible goal.
He made the difference because the goals came at such an important time. He had such an amazing effect on the game." He went on to label Cherki a "genius," marveling at the player’s technical abilities. "The things he can do with a football are just incredible.
There is that balance and poise. When I was watching it, the first thing that came to my mind was that there are not many Premier League players who can do this. In such close proximity, having the ball under such control and then still having the audacity to shift it to his left and slot it into the corner – it was spectacular." Redknapp even drew comparisons with past greats. He suggested that Eden Hazard, with his low centre of gravity, might have been capable of a similar move, and he evoked memories of Georgian playmaker Georgi Kinkladze, a City fan favourite who could slip through defenders as if they were telephone poles.
"But Cherki is a beautiful player," Redknapp said, emphasizing the aesthetic pleasure of watching such skill. The former midfielder also touched on the tactical dilemma faced by City’s manager, Enzo Maresca.
While Maresca values structure and discipline, Redknapp argued that a talent like Cherki needs space to express himself. He recalled a conversation with Elliot Anderson about the importance of positional discipline, but warned that with a maverick player, freedom is essential.
"We have been talking about where he fits in because Enzo Maresca does like structure. We were talking to Elliot Anderson who was saying he has to learn to stay in his position. But with someone like Cherki you have to accept his freedom – he is a maverick kind of talent – you have to let him do his thing," Redknapp explained.
Redknapp has long been vocal about his preference for watching creative players rather than teams that simply pass the ball sideways. He said, "Managers now want structure, they do not like players who are a bit loose out of possession.
But I go to football matches to watch people like Cherki play. That is what makes me smile.
I don't like watching players pass it sideways, that is not why I go to football. I go to watch geniuses do their work. Some managers won't appreciate it, but last week he got his manager out of a hole because without him they would not have won that game." He referenced Cherki’s earlier impact in City’s season‑opening fixture against Bournemouth, where the youngster came off the bench to provide two assists that turned a sluggish start into a victory.
Redknapp believes Maresca must place trust in Cherki’s instinctive flair. "If there was one criticism of his time at Chelsea it was getting Cole Palmer on the ball enough.
I know he had some injuries but it was finding him in the right positions. With players like Cherki, you have to give them freedom. You cannot say to them go and stand on the wing and we will get you the ball and then you can come alive," he warned.
Looking ahead, Redknapp speculated on how Cherki could fit into different tactical setups. He imagined a scenario where City sign Enzo Fernández, creating a midfield trio with Ayyoub Bouaddi and Elliot Anderson, which might see Cherki adopt a more disciplined role.
Yet he insisted that in tight games, such as a 2-1 contest, the team will need players who can create moments of magic. "Certainly, if you ask Erling Haaland, he finds you with those passes," Redknapp added. When asked whether Cherki could improve, Redknapp’s answer was simple: let him do more of what he does best.
"Because he is so good at dribbling in tight areas he should do it more because as soon as he arrives in the box, defenders are so scared to touch him. He can go on his left or his right foot.
Some players you know automatically they want to go on their right side when you play against them. With him you would have no clue how to stop him," he said. He highlighted a specific instance from last season when Cherki faced Gabriel (presumably Gabriel Jesus) and dropped his shoulder to cut inside, then released a right‑footed strike that seemed to glide on a string. "It is so easy for him.
The ball seems to be on a string for him," Redknapp noted. City’s head coach Enzo Maresca also praised Cherki, not just for the two goals but for his all‑round contribution.
"His performance for me was very good, not because of the two goals but the way he worked off the ball. He had to press, he was in charge when Palace had the ball, he was in charge of Adam Wharton and I think his game was a complete game on the ball and off the ball. First of all, he loves football so it's much easier to work with him. And then it's Rayan, Rayan is like this.
We know how good he is, we know the quality that he has. In this moment he's helping the team also with the numbers in terms of assists and goals and no doubt that he's going to help the team more in the future," Maresca said.
In summary, Redknapp’s exuberant endorsement underscores a broader debate in modern football: the balance between tactical rigidity and the creative freedom that players like Rayan Cherki bring. If Maresca can harness that brilliance while maintaining enough structure to satisfy his own philosophy, City may well have found a new cornerstone for their attacking arsenal.