"Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has endured frustration with Rayan Cherki but says this was a day he wanted to "kiss him" after his match-winning performance against Nottingham Forest. Cherki has shown flashes of brilliance amid periods of inconsistency for City this season but produced the goods at the City Ground with an 83rd-minute winner in a 2-1 victory. The France international earlier set up Tijjani Reijnders' opener which was cancelled out by Omari Hutchinson in a spirited Forest performance."
"Guardiola said: "There are moments I shout at him and there are moments I want to kiss him, so I have that ambivalent feeling with him. "I want to allow him to express his incredible talent. We have to play better from the back so he can get more balls from that position. "The second half was a little bit better.""
"This was a big win for City, who made it six in a row in the Premier League in an ominous warning to their title rivals. After failing to have a shot on target in the first half, Reijnders' 48th minute opener was cancelled out by Hutchinson six minutes later. Forest, remembering European Cup winning winger John Robertson who died on Christmas Day, matched City throughout but were undone by Cherki's late strike."
Rayan Cherki produced an 83rd-minute winner to secure a 2-1 Manchester City victory at Nottingham Forest. Cherki earlier set up Tijjani Reijnders' opening goal, which Forest's Omari Hutchinson levelled after six minutes. Pep Guardiola said he feels ambivalent about Cherki, alternating between frustration and affection, and wants to allow Cherki to express his talent while urging better play from the back. The win extended City's Premier League run to six consecutive victories and represented a result the side might have lost last season. Forest matched City and remembered winger John Robertson, while Sean Dyche questioned a potential foul on Morgan Gibbs-White before the winner.
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