UPDATE: Pep Guardiola hailed Rayan Cherki as an “exceptional player” following Manchester City’s 2-0 victory over Brentford in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on October 25, 2023. Cherki’s stunning first-half goal was pivotal in securing the win, marking his fourth goal of the season.
In a game where City showcased seven changes from their previous match, Cherki displayed remarkable skill. After Brentford failed to clear a corner kick by Divine Mukasa, the ball fell to Cherki, who expertly maneuvered around Mikkel Damsgaard before delivering a powerful shot into the top corner. Guardiola emphasized the importance of Cherki’s performance, stating, “Close to the 18-yard box of the opponent he is an exceptional player. It was a fantastic goal… a blind guy, a blind woman can realise, it is not necessary to be a journalist or a manager to realise he is a fantastic, fantastic player.”
With this victory, City continues their quest for silverware, but the performance raised questions about the officiating. Just 16 minutes in, City’s Abdukodir Khusanov fouled Brentford’s Kevin Schade, leading to discussions about whether Khusanov should have received a red card. Brentford manager Keith Andrews voiced his frustration, declaring, “The explanation was that the touch being too far away from goal doesn’t quite sit well with me… If it’s a red card it’s a big advantage for us obviously, but we’ll never know.”
Despite the controversy, Andrews praised his team’s bravery and adaptability, especially given their missing front-line players. “We showed a lot of courage, a lot of conviction and bravery in how we played,” he noted. “I felt there were moments where we could have punished City, we just didn’t quite take the extra pass.”
City’s second goal came from a heavily-deflected strike by Savinho, solidifying their win. Guardiola also commended Savinho’s resilience, stating, “What I like is that he is always going all the time… a reward of his work ethic.”
As Brentford prepares to train at City’s facilities tomorrow, Andrews and Guardiola are set to discuss the officiating decisions over coffee, highlighting the camaraderie and respect in the sport.
Fans will be keenly watching Cherki’s future performances as he continues to recover from injury and make a significant impact on City’s season. With the team’s momentum building, they are now focused on their next fixtures in both domestic and European competitions.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops!
