Rayan Cherki may have to accept unwanted Man City repeat - 'Choose carefully'

Manchester City star Rayan Cherki spoke to reporters after his eye-catching contribution to their Premier League win over Sunderland.

"Two questions," pleaded Rayan Cherki as he came to speak to newspaper reporters in what was one of several interviews for him after Manchester City's win over Sunderland. "Not five, not six, not seven."

Before the questions began, Cherki apologised for his English as he readied himself to do another interview in a language that is not his first. As the second question began to be asked, he interjected again: "Choose your question carefully, because it's the last!"

It was also said with a smile and a laugh, although the 22-year-old did waste no time at all in swerving a few questions that he said were too complicated for him and was then whisked off for another broadcaster. Just because he had produced the game's outstanding moment in the 3-0 win, it did not make him the best talker.

That is both completely fine and entirely understandable. It is difficult to think of anyone in any profession who prefers talking about their job to actually doing it, never mind footballers who have such rare talent that allows them to be idolised for their feet but are all too aware that every time they open their mouth it will go around the world and could reflect negatively on them.

Unfortunately for the very best footballers, however, one comes with the other. The more impact you have on the pitch, the more likely you are to have to speak to media about it afterwards, not least because certain broadcasters pay for the rights to be able to speak to whoever they like.

Any repeat performances from Cherki in line with his Sunderland performance and however unwanted those post-match chats may be they will surely be coming. Pep Guardiola praised Cherki for doing the simple things well and there was no dressing up of the rabona assist for Phil Foden that left jaws on the floor at the Etihad.

"All the games, all the weeks I want to give a good pass to Phil, Erling, Jeremy, to all the players on the pitch. It’s my job, I work all week for that," he said.

"The rabona is my creativity, when I do this rabona I don't know where the ball is, I just think about putting the ball on the head of Erling or Foden and today it’s good. I do it in all the games because it’s my quality.

"I take my time, the adaptation period is very hard and I work all the weeks for that. I have the confidence of Pep and I’m very happy for that."

Guardiola also praised the character of Cherki, not just to be able to make the game safe at Sunderland but for his cameo against Fulham when he came on as a substitute and was a calming presence on a City team that were threatening to throw away a four-goal lead. That performance earned the Sunderland start and he may have played his way into the team for Real Madrid on Wednesday - another environment where the manager wants big personalities who are unafraid to play their normal game.

If selected, that is not a challenge that Cherki will be shirking. "It’s very important for us, all the games, in [Premier League] and Champions League," he said. "We go to Madrid to win and not concede a goal and we are ready for that. We know Madrid are a very good team but we go there to win, just for that."