Pierre Sage hails Rayan Cherki as genius: 'Maybe he is God?'
Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage has compared Manchester City midfielder Rayan Cherki to a genius and even asked, "Maybe God?" ahead of Friday's Premier League clash at Selhurst Park. Sage, who coached Cherki at Lyon, warns that when Rayan Cherki has the ball he can do things opponents simply cannot imagine.
The extraordinary praise comes as Cherki enters his second season at the Etihad after a £30.3 million move from Lyon in 2025. The 23-year-old France international was named in the 2025-26 PFA Team of the Year on Tuesday and opened the new campaign with two assists in a 2-1 comeback win over Bournemouth on Sunday.
Key Takeaways
- Pierre Sage coached Cherki at Lyon and says the midfielder understood play "better than me."
- Cherki set up both City goals off the bench against Bournemouth in the Premier League opener.
- Despite leading the Premier League in open-play assists since last season, Cherki still fights for starts.
- City signed Cherki for €36 million plus add-ons after 10 goals and 15 assists in his debut season.
- Palace host City on Friday after a 2-0 opening-day defeat at Everton.
Why is Pierre Sage calling Rayan Cherki a genius?
Sage, 47, rose from Lyon's academy manager to first-team head coach between November 2023 and January 2025. Speaking before Palace welcome City, he recalled scepticism around Cherki's career path and told the playmaker he had "big talent" that could shine "in special contexts."
"You have to give something for the team defensively and keep your talent in attack," Sage said. "I had nothing to say to him offensively because he understood the play better than me." When told Cherki had called him a genius, Sage replied: "I am not a genius; he is a genius... Maybe God?"
His tactical advice for Friday is equally blunt. "To control him, the best thing is to prevent all the passes to him, because when he has the ball he is able to do things we don't imagine," Sage told reporters, according to The Athletic.
How is Cherki performing at Manchester City?
Cherki made his Lyon debut aged 16 in 2019 and stayed five full seasons before joining City. His debut campaign brought 10 goals and 15 assists in 52 games as City won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. He has also scored twice in 14 France appearances and played in six of seven games at this summer's World Cup.
Since the start of last season, Cherki has provided 12 assists from open play—more than any other Premier League player, the BBC reports. Yet regular starts remain elusive; under Pep Guardiola last season he made 33 Premier League appearances but only 19 from the start.
Manager Enzo Maresca said Cherki "can give us moments when we struggle in the last third," though selection depends on the game plan. Cherki showed his frustration at being benched against Bournemouth, but his two assists—including the added-time winner for Josko Gvardiol—helped Maresca win his first league game in charge.
Can Palace stop Cherki at Selhurst Park?
Palace begin Friday's test on the back of a 2-0 loss at Everton under Sage. City arrive with momentum, and Cherki will hope his Bournemouth cameo is enough for a starting role. City executives have previously suggested Cherki could reach Kevin De Bruyne's level by 2027, reflecting the scale of expectation around the playmaker.
Off the pitch, questions about temperament have followed Cherki. City chief executive Ferran Soriano admitted pre-signing reports were "not so positive" about his attitude, with some viewing him as "chaotic." Maresca has acknowledged Cherki does not hide his emotions—a trait that could define whether he becomes a regular starter this season.
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