On a day when Nottingham Forest remembered their legendary figure, John Robertson, with heartfelt tributes, Manchester City’s young French talent, Rayan Cherki, painted his own masterpiece on the pitch. Robertson, revered by the iconic Brian Clough, who likened him to “Picasso,” would have likely admired Cherki’s match-winning influence.

Robertson, a key player in Forest’s back-to-back European Cup victories, passed away on Christmas Day. As the team paid their respects, Cherki’s performance stood out, evoking comparisons to artistic greats like Matisse and Monet.

Pep Guardiola had been scrutinizing the form and fitness of his Manchester City squad earlier in the week, and it seemed as if they might squander an opportunity to gain ground in the title race. However, Cherki’s brilliance turned the tide in their favor.

Before making headlines, Cherki was already on the radar of Europe’s top clubs. He became Lyon’s youngest debutant at just 16 years old in October 2019. This academy, which has produced stars like Karim Benzema, Alexandre Lacazette, and Bradley Barcola, seemed to have unearthed a gem in Cherki, with even Thierry Henry noting his exceptional dribbling skills.

Yet, the path to stardom wasn’t without hurdles. Concerns about Cherki’s temperament—though consistently denied by the player—were rumored to have deterred elite clubs from pursuing him sooner. Additionally, his flair for unpredictability made some wonder if he could thrive in the highly structured world of modern football.

Rayan Cherki scored a superb late winner to earn Man City victory over Nottingham Forest

The Frenchman fired into the bottom corner to earn a 2-1 victory to send Man City top

Pep Guardiola celebrated after seeing his side come through a tough clash against Forest

However, in the past year or so, the appreciation for players with the ability to conjure moments of magic has resurged. Cherki embodies this shift perfectly, and his performance was a delight for Guardiola, even in a game where City’s victory appeared hardly earned.

After Cherki had created the opener for Tijjani Reijnders early in the second half, Omari Hutchinson scored a fine equaliser for Forest. Yet with seven minutes remaining, Cherki’s clean hit flew through several players and crept through the grasp of John Victor, whose vision was obscured by Morgan Gibbs-White. It left Forest still looking over their shoulders at the wrong end of the table.

Forest boss Sean Dyche has now lost 15 of his 17 encounters against Guardiola and with last season’s top scorer Chris Wood facing more time on the sidelines, there is plenty of work to do in January both on and off the pitch.

In ominous form coming into this game, it was no surprise to see Pep Guardiola pick the same starting XI that swept aside West Ham before Christmas. Everyone had, it seemed, heeded their manager’s warning against over-indulgence during the holiday season.

In the first half, his team struggled to solve the puzzle set by Dyche. Forest centre-backs Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo produced some excellent challenges and blocks, with one sliding tackle from Milenkovic timed perfectly to stop Erling Haaland’s shot at source.

Yet City were not having things all their own way. As well as struggling to create clear chances, they had their work cut out when Forest did manage to spring forward. In the seventh minute, Callum Hudson-Odoi’s tantalising cross from the left just eluded Igor Jesus and Gibbs-White.

In the absence of Chris Wood, who faces a longer spell out after having surgery, Igor Jesus has carried the load for Forest in attack. Less than an hour before kick-off, Wood posted a picture of himself on Instagram sitting in a hospital bed, which seem to catch the club on the hop.

Luckily Jesus has looked right at home and he rattled City centre-backs Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol. Gvardiol was lucky not to be booked for dragging Jesus back and then Dias was cautioned for hauling him down soon afterwards.

Tijjani Reijnders had opened the scoring for Man City after being played through by Cherki

Reijnders finish followed a strong start to the second half by Man City at the City Ground

Man City’s lead proved short lived with Omari Hutchinson equalising for the hosts

Hutchinson levelled six minutes later with his first goal for Forest after his summer move

Cherki’s late strike earned Manchester City their eighth straight win in all competitions

Just after half-time, Dias was perhaps lucky not to be shown a second yellow when he tripped Jesus close to the penalty area, with referee Robert Jones deeming the challenge accidental. Less than two minutes later, City were in front.

For only the second time in the match, Cherki found space inside after drifting off the flank. With Milenkovic playing Tijjani Reijnders onside, the Dutchman was able to glide into the box and finish low with his left foot.

Next Cherki raced at the Forest defence, ducking outside and taking aim with his right foot. Goalkeeper John Victor, preferred to the fit-again Matz Sels, did well to push it against the post.

That was the cue for Forest to deliver the best move of the match, and it yielded the equaliser. Gibbs-White pickpocketed Reijnders and danced forward, swapping passes with Hudson-Odoi before finding Jesus with a disguised ball. Jesus’s ball to the far post was perfect and Hutchinson made a crisp connection from close range.

Forest kept coming. Gianluigi Donnarumma failed to hold a routine effort from Neco Williams only for Nicolo Savona to fire the loose ball high and wide. Haaland has been decisive so often for City yet with a little less than 20 minutes remaining, he put a difficult volley into the City fans. Moments later, Foden did hit the target after a swift exchange with Bernardo Silva and John Victor bailed Forest out with a sharp stop.  

Both sides were tiring now and when City failed to deal with another ball into their box, Milenkovic’s first-time effort was deflected wide. 

Then came Cherki’s winner, given by referee Robert Jones despite Forest protesting that Nico O’Reilly had fouled Gibbs-White, forcing him to block the path of his keeper. City didn’t care and now have won eight in a row. A warning to Mikel Arteta and Arsenal: City are going nowhere.