Jamie Redknapp could not contain his enthusiasm after Rayan Cherki turned a routine Premier League fixture into a showcase of brilliance, netting two goals that helped Manchester City secure a 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. While Erling Haaland opened the scoring and added another later, it was Cherki’s dazzling display in the second half that truly shifted the momentum in City’s favour.
Cherki’s first strike was a piece of art. He glided past a wall of Palace defenders, weaving through tight spaces with the kind of close‑control dribbling that leaves opponents grasping at thin air.
After slipping past his markers, he calmly slipped the ball into the net, a goal that Redknapp described on Sky Sports as "a masterpiece". The second goal, arriving shortly after, was equally spectacular: Cherki received the ball on the left, shifted his weight, and with a swift, audacious flick sent the ball curling into the far corner. The impact was immediate – Palace’s morale collapsed, and City’s lead widened. "Rayan Cherki painted a masterpiece," Redknapp said, his voice brimming with admiration.
"It was an incredible goal. He made the difference at a crucial moment and had an amazing effect on the game. He is a genius – the things he can do with a football are just incredible." The former England midfielder went on to compare Cherki’s skill set with some of the game’s most celebrated talents.
"There is a balance and poise that you rarely see in the Premier League. When I watched him, the first thing that came to mind was how few players can operate in such confined spaces, keep the ball glued to their feet, and still have the audacity to shift it to the left and finish in the corner," Redknapp explained. He drew parallels with Eden Hazard, noting the Belgian’s low centre of gravity and ability to slip through defenses, and even invoked the memory of Georgi Kinkladze, a Manchester City legend known for slipping through tight gaps as if navigating a telephone box.
"Cherki is a beautiful player," Redknapp added, emphasizing the aesthetic pleasure of watching him. Beyond the individual brilliance, Redknapp addressed the tactical dilemma facing City’s manager, Enzo Maresca. He highlighted a recent conversation about squad structure, mentioning Elliot Anderson’s need to stay disciplined in his position. Yet, Redknapp argued, a player of Cherki’s calibre demands freedom.
"He is a maverick talent – you have to let him do his thing. In the first half he seemed quiet, but in the second half he completely changed the game with a moment of genius," he said. Redknapp also touched on a broader debate about modern football philosophy.
"Managers today crave structure and dislike players who are a bit loose out of possession. But I go to matches to watch people like Cherki.
That’s what makes me smile. I don’t enjoy watching sideways passes; I want to see geniuses at work," he remarked, acknowledging that not all coaches appreciate such flair. He recalled Cherki’s earlier impact against Bournemouth, where his two assists after coming off the bench rescued City from a potential defeat, underscoring the importance of his creative spark. Regarding Cherki’s development at Chelsea, Redknapp noted that one criticism had been his limited involvement with Cole Palmer, partly due to injuries and positional issues.
He stressed that players like Cherki need space to operate, not rigid instructions to stay on the wing. "You cannot tell them to stand on the flank and wait for the ball. They need freedom to roam and create," he asserted. Looking ahead, Redknapp imagined a City midfield bolstered by Enzo Fernández, Ayyoub Bouaddi, and Elliot Anderson, where Cherki could either tighten his game or, in tighter matches, unleash his creativity to unlock defenses.
He praised Haaland’s willingness to receive Cherki’s incisive passes, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between the striker and the playmaker. When asked what Cherki could improve, Redknapp’s answer was simple: more of the same.
"Because he is so good at dribbling in tight areas, he should do it more. Defenders are terrified to engage him in the box.
He can use either foot, and opponents never know which way he’ll go," he explained. He recalled a previous encounter with Gabriel, where Cherki dropped his shoulder, cut inside, and finished effortlessly, making it seem as if the ball were attached to a string. Enzo Maresca, City’s head coach, echoed many of Redknapp’s sentiments. He praised Cherki’s overall contribution, not just the goals, but also his work rate off the ball.
"He pressed, he took charge when Palace had possession, and he was dominant both on and off the ball. He loves football, which makes it easier to work with him. His quality is evident, and his numbers in assists and goals will only grow," Maresca said. In summary, Redknapp’s endorsement of Rayan Cherki is unequivocal: the French winger possesses a rare blend of technical wizardry, creativity, and audacity that can turn games on their head.
While modern managers may crave tactical rigidity, Redknapp argues that true footballing brilliance thrives on freedom. As City’s season unfolds, the onus now lies on Enzo Maresca to balance structure with the liberty Cherki needs to continue dazzling fans and delivering decisive moments on the pitch.