Rayan Cherki shines as Pierre Sage praises ex-player

Rayan Cherki strengthened his early impact at Manchester City while giving former coach Pierre Sage a difficult reunion. The France international scored twice against Crystal Palace, prompting the Crystal Palace manager to praise his former Lyon player despite the damage caused to his side.

City won 4-1 away from home on Friday in the second round of the Premier League. The result moved Pep Guardiola’s team temporarily to the top of the table, while Palace were beaten by a player Sage previously worked with at Olympique Lyonnais.

Cherki had already made an impression on his league debut for City. Used as a substitute against Bournemouth, he supplied two assists as his new team overturned the match and won 2-1. His latest appearance brought a more direct contribution, with two goals in a convincing away victory.

Sage described Cherki’s performance as being of a very high standard and said he wanted to congratulate him, even though Palace suffered as a result. The recognition underlined the familiarity between the coach and the player, but Cherki’s two-match start has now given City an early lead in the Premier League standings.