Rayan Cherki’s Late Goal Secures Vital Win for Manchester City

Rayan Cherki’s fifth goal of the season delivered a vital 2-1 victory for Manchester City against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, temporarily positioning them back at the top of the Premier League.

Manager Pep Guardiola expressed that the “fog” surrounding the team has lifted, though he clarified that there is no magical solution to reinvigorate their performance. Following this match, Arsenal reclaimed their lead after defeating Brighton, but City remains just two points adrift.

Last season, City finished third, trailing champions Liverpool by 13 points after securing four consecutive titles prior. A dismal run of one win in 13 matches across all competitions, including five straight defeats from October to November, severely affected their season. Additionally, they experienced an early exit from the Champions League, departing in the knockout stages against Real Madrid—marking their earliest elimination in 12 years.

Guardiola remarked, “Managers are not magicians; we cannot simply click our fingers and resolve issues instantly. Sometimes, time is required for improvement. Last season, how many times did you hear me here judging or criticizing the club? I could have, given my substantial managerial record. Yet, how many times did I? Never. It was not about individual performances; there was something amiss, a fog enveloping Manchester and our training center. We were lacking something.”

The City manager, who will lead his team to Sunderland on New Year’s Day, mentioned that he engaged in several discussions with his squad during the Club World Cup in America over the summer, believing that significant progress was made during that time.

“When we faced Al Hilal, it wasn’t our loss that frustrated me; it was how well we performed. Afterward, I encouraged the players to take a break, although I was displeased because we showcased strong training and competitive spirit. Our setting in Boca Raton by the beach fostered a positive atmosphere, leading to numerous dinners and discussions about our objectives for the upcoming season. We wanted to sustain that camaraderie.

“After conversations with Pep [Lijnders], James [French], Manel [Estiarte], Hugo [Viana], and Txiki [Begiristain], we realized something had changed; there was a palpable shift in energy. Last season, we had lost that energy. Now, we are training and competing at a higher level. While this does not guarantee victories, it enables us to recognize our team’s potential. We have achieved eight consecutive wins—a challenging feat—but our competitive spirit has markedly improved.”