Rayan Cherki is a genius who just painted a masterpiece for Man City at Crystal Palace, says Jamie Redknapp
Rayan Cherki played a starring role in Manchester City’s 4-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace with two goals to go with his two assists against Bournemouth. Jamie Redknapp hails the No.10 as a genius and calls for Enzo Maresca to give him freedom…
Friday 28 August 2026 23:22, UK
Jamie Redknapp hailed Rayan Cherki as a genius after he scored twice to inspire Manchester City to a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Erling Haaland started and finished the scoring, but it was Rayan Cherki's two goals early in the second half that took the game away from Palace. His first was magnificent, dancing between the Palace defenders before poking the ball home.
"Rayan Cherki painted a masterpiece," Redknapp told Sky Sports.
"It was an incredible goal. He felt like the difference because the goals came at such an important time. He had such an amazing effect on the game.
"He is a genius the things that he can do with a football are just incredible."
"There is that balance and poise. When I was watching it, the first thing that comes to my mind is 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 such audacity to shift it to his left and just gets it into the corner.
"I think Eden Hazard, possibly, could have done that. He was that type of player, the low centre of gravity and then to somehow smuggle the ball away into the corner.
"[Georgi] Kinkladze, Manchester City fans of another generation will remember him. He could get past people in a telephone box and this is very similar.
"But Cherki is a beautiful player.
"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 - and he is a maverick kind of talent - you have to let him do his thing.
"He said in the first half he was not very good but in the second half he just completely changed the game with a moment of genius."
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Speaking even before the game, Redknapp has 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."
That was a reference to Cherki's two assists after coming off the bench to turn the game around in City's first Premier League game of the season against Bournemouth.
Redknapp believes Maresca must trust in Cherki's talent.
"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.
"There will be games when, if they sign Enzo Fernandez, we will see him, [Ayyoub] Bouaddi and Elliot Anderson in midfield, and he might go a little bit more belt and braces.
"But there will also be games like tonight when it is a little tight and it goes to 2-1, that is when you need players like Cherki who can just go and create. Certainly, if you ask Erling Haaland, he finds you with those passes."
Is there anything Cherki can do differently?
Redknapp just wants to see him try more not less.
"I personally feel 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.
"When he plays against Gabriel [for his goal against Arsenal last season], he drops the shoulder and goes inside. There, he goes to his right side. It is so easy for him. The ball seems to be on a string for him."
Maresca's verdict on Cherki
Man City boss Enzo Maresca speaking about Rayan Cherki:
"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."
