In the 65th minute, Rayan Cherki accelerated down the right wing before cutting back. The French midfielder took a touch, then delivered a rabona cross into the penalty area. Phil Foden headed the ball off the underside of the crossbar and into the net, sealing the 3-0 victory. Cherki's skillful play drew cheers from the Etihad Stadium crowd when replayed on the big screen.

Guardiola commented on Cherki's performance, stating, "Rayan is an excellent, young player with a strong personality. In the final third, he possesses unique qualities. What I admire most about Rayan isn't that technique." The coach added, "I have never seen Messi make such a cross."

Rayan Cherki's rabona assist went viral during Manchester City's 3-0 victory over Sunderland in round 15 of the English Premier League at Etihad Stadium, Manchester, United Kingdom on 6/12. *Screenshot*.

Guardiola emphasized that while Messi is the greatest player in history, what he learned from the Argentine star is simplicity. "It doesn't matter which foot you cross with, as long as it's effective," the Catalan coach stated. "But I prefer simplicity, because I learned from Messi that doing simple things is never wrong."

Before Foden's goal, Manchester City led by two thanks to central defenders Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol. The 3-0 victory solidified Manchester City's second-place position with 31 points, two points behind Arsenal, who lost 1-2 to Aston Villa in an earlier fixture.

Guardiola believes consistency will decide the title race. "To win the English Premier League, consistency is important," he stressed. "It comes from how you play, how you develop whether leading 4-1 or trailing 1-2. Today was perhaps one of our top performances this season over the full 95 minutes."

The 54-year-old coach recalled recent matches, including Manchester City nearly dropping points against Fulham despite holding a four-goal lead at one stage. "We told each other that if we continue to play like we did in the second half against Fulham, we won't be able to compete for the title," Guardiola stated.

Coach Pep Guardiola reacts during the match. *Photo: Manchester City*.

Meanwhile, Cherki revealed he executed the rabona partly to entertain the fans. "I heard the fans' reactions," the French midfielder expressed. "That play was for them, to bring joy. It's my nature; when I have the ball, I always want to try something."

In summer 2025, Cherki joined Manchester City for USD 41,1 million from Lyon. The 22-year-old midfielder has since risen to co-lead the assist charts, with five goal contributions in the English Premier League this season, matching the tallies of Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) and Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham).

Cherki expressed satisfaction with the team's clean sheet, yet remained cautious when questioned about the title race. "We know we are only two points behind Arsenal, but we are focusing on one game at a time," he said. "The entire team is thinking only about winning the next match."

In their next match, Manchester City will visit Real Madrid for the sixth round of the Champions League group stage on the evening of 10/12. Four days later, Cherki and his teammates will face hosts Crystal Palace in round 16 of the English Premier League.

By Hong Duy (Source: ESPN, Mancity.com)