{"id":528053,"date":"2026-04-13T06:26:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T06:26:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/528053\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T06:26:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T06:26:14","slug":"oreilly-injury-cherki-praise-enzo-ban-latest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/528053\/","title":{"rendered":"O\u2019Reilly injury, Cherki praise + Enzo ban latest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Goals from Nico O\u2019Reilly (\u00a35.0m), Marc Guehi (\u00a35.1m) and Jeremy Doku (\u00a36.4m) helped Manchester City close the gap on Arsenal to just six points on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Here are our Scout Notes from City\u2019s 3-0 win over Chelsea.<\/p>\n

O\u2019REILLY INJURY LATEST\"\"<\/p>\n

Nico O\u2019Reilly netted the opener for City on Sunday with a superb header, his fifth goal in the Premier League this season, but was later forced off due to injury.<\/p>\n

The youngster pulled up and required treatment from the City medical staff before he had to exit the pitch.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Reilly seemed to feel his hamstring, yet he appeared relatively unfazed upon his departure, pausing to chat with Pep Guardiola, who responded with a smile.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, not the post-match presser, nor the interviews with the BBC or Sky, provided an update.<\/p>\n

If Nico O\u2019Reilly is sidelined for Double Gameweek 33, the stock of Guehi, who was excellent on Sunday, and Rayan Ait-Nouri (\u00a35.7m) rises.<\/p>\n

CHERKI PRAISE<\/p>\n

City were poor in the first half, but after the break, they stepped it up, with Rayan Cherki (\u00a36.3m) superb.<\/p>\n

He created the goals for O\u2019Reilly and Guehi, taking his assist tally to 11, the most of any player except Bruno Fernandes (\u00a310.3m) in 2025\/26.<\/p>\n

Cherki\u2019s off-the-ball attributes have sometimes been questioned, but Guardiola seems to have found a winning formula over the last few matches, with the Frenchman part of an exciting front four with Antoine Semenyo (\u00a38.2m), Doku and Erling Haaland (\u00a314.4m).<\/p>\n

\u201cThe numbers are incredible and the quality in the first season in the Premier League, he is something unique. In the first half, he played close to me. Play close to Haaland and the wingers and the attacking midfielders and use the talent that Mum and Dad gave to you. When he starts to do that, he will become an extraordinary player with his mindset and mentality.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has to learn to play for 95 minutes doing what we have to do. But his work ethic is unbelievable knowing he doesn\u2019t have the speed and pressing that Antoine Semenyo has that is amazing. I\u2019ve been with Sergio Aguero and Sergio Aguero was not the incredible high press player but he tried his best and all I ask is that\u2026 do your best and you can do it because he has another quality.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery player has his own ability. Rayan has something special, the second goal I said choose the pass right and he passed to Marc Guehi that I could not even see from outside. He is a top talent and again what I said, if Manchester City decide to bring that player in, it is because Manchester City is working really well.\u201d \u2013 Pep Guardiola on Rayan Cherki<\/p>\n

A real maverick on the pitch, Cherki appears to have earned Guardiola\u2019s trust, marking him out as a tempting differential in Double Gameweek 33, when City face Arsenal and Burnley.<\/p>\n

As for Haaland, he contributed with four shots but didn\u2019t get as much service as he\u2019d have liked.<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t happen for Semenyo either, who went into the book for a foul on Pedro Neto (\u00a37.0m) and really should have done better from the chances he had.<\/p>\n

CHELSEA SLUMP\"\"<\/p>\n

Chelsea had a decent first half on Sunday, but they capitulated after the break and had no response to City\u2019s attack.<\/p>\n

With tough encounters ahead against Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion in Double Gameweek 33, Liam Rosenior\u2019s side have now lost three Premier League games in a row.<\/p>\n

They\u2019ve failed to score in that time, too, with one of the worst minutes per expected goal (xG) rates in the division (84.7).<\/p>\n

Having endured a difficult spell of performances, they\u2019ve also failed to keep a clean sheet since Rosenior\u2019s first match in charge in January:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Image from WhoScored<\/a><\/p>\n

ROSENIOR ON ENZO<\/p>\n

In better news, Chelsea do have Enzo Fernandez (\u00a36.5m) available for selection again.<\/p>\n

The box-to-box midfielder has now completed his two-match internal ban, having missed the FA Cup win over Port Vale and Sunday\u2019s defeat to City.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnzo\u2019s a top player, and honestly, he\u2019s a top character, and I\u2019m looking forward to having him back next week. Sometimes you make decisions not based on the short-term, you make decisions based on what you want to see long-term.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd it was a long-term decision that myself and the directors and the club aligned and the leadership group of players that we made to make sure that our values and our culture in the long-term is in the right place.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Enzo has had the conversations he\u2019s needed to have. He\u2019s been fantastic in the last few days in supporting myself and the team, and I can\u2019t wait to have him back in the squad.\u201d \u2013 Liam Rosenior on Enzo Fernandez<\/p>\n

In Enzo\u2019s absence against City, Rosenior played Cole Palmer (\u00a310.5m) in the \u201810\u2019, with Estevao (\u00a36.4m) and Neto out wide.<\/p>\n

However, Chelsea lacked creativity, generating just 1.14 xG and only one \u2018big chance\u2019.<\/p>\n

Marc Cucurella (\u00a36.0m) had the ball in the back of the net from a Joao Pedro (\u00a37.7m) pass, but it was ruled out for offside, while the Brazilian later glanced a header wide.<\/p>\n

Palmer did at least bank defensive contribution (DefCon) points for just the second time this season, but overall, it was a quiet afternoon for the premium midfielder.<\/p>\n

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