As the final whistle echoed through the City Ground, Manchester City celebrated another hard-fought victory. Blue scarves waved in unison, but the spotlight belonged to Cherki. Wearing the iconic No.10 shirt, the French midfielder capped off a stunning performance with a goal and an assist in City’s dramatic 2–1 comeback win over Nottingham Forest.
The match was far from straightforward. City dominated possession in the first half with 66%, yet failed to register a single shot on target as Forest’s compact defense frustrated Haaland and company. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 48th minute, when Cherki split the defense with a perfectly weighted through ball, allowing Reijnders to open the scoring.
Forest responded swiftly, capitalizing on a mistake to equalize just six minutes later, turning the stadium into a cauldron of noise. But in the decisive moment, Cherki rose to the occasion once more. In the 83rd minute, he met Gvardiol’s headed pass and fired an unstoppable shot into the corner, sealing a memorable win.
Signed for €36.5 million, Cherki is proving to be a bargain. The 22-year-old has recorded 5 goals and 8 assists this season, directly contributing to 13 goals. His seven assists place him joint-top of the Premier League charts, establishing him as City’s new creative heartbeat following De Bruyne’s departure.
Pep Guardiola praised his influence after the match: “Sometimes I shout at him, sometimes I want to kiss him. His talent is unbelievable.” With composure, vision, and precision, Cherki is redefining City’s midfield dynamics.
The victory marks City’s eighth consecutive win in all competitions and their sixth straight league triumph. They now sit just two points behind leaders Arsenal, with Aston Villa also in close pursuit—setting the stage for one of the tightest title races in recent Premier League history.
