Guardiola delights in Cherkis standout display with affectionate praise

Pep Guardiola is utterly charmed by Rayan Cherki, with the Manchester City manager expressing a desire to kiss the exceptional French talent following his outstanding showing in the 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Cherki is quickly becoming the key creative force for City in his debut season in Manchester, having joined from Lyon in the summer.

The highly talented 22 year old has occasionally irritated Guardiola by opting for flashy moves instead of straightforward passes, yet he demonstrated his brilliant abilities effectively at the City Ground.

Cherki provided an exquisite assist for Tijjani Reijnders goal in the second half and then fired in a precise late winner from the edge of the box after Omari Hutchinson equalised for Forest.

I aim to let him showcase his remarkable skills. We need to improve our build up from the defence to supply him more in those areas. The second period showed some progress, Guardiola remarked.

Sometimes I raise my voice at him, and other times I feel like embracing him.

The sixth consecutive Premier League triumph for City prompted a joyous reaction from Guardiola, who was cheered by the away supporters as he joined in the celebrations post match.

Guardiolas team were not at their peak against the resilient Forest, which made the hard fought win especially significant for the Spanish coach.

They struggled in comparable fixtures last year, such as the 1-0 defeat at the City Ground back in March.

Guardiola conceded that his squad would have faltered against Forests intense approach during the previous campaign.

Now, they are strong contenders for a championship that would stand out among Guardiolas greatest achievements, thanks to his squad overhaul over the past year.

People forget quickly, but in our six Premier League titles, matches like this were crucial, so these are vital points, he noted.

Particularly against such a strong opponent. Sean Dyche has built a solid squad. They are a top class team.

It matters more how you endure, defend, and recognise when youre not at your best and strive for improvement. Without that, success is impossible. Last season, we would have lost that one every time.