Manchester City manager hailed attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki’s ability to be a difference-maker for the Sky Blues, claiming that the French international’s quality in the final third can unlock opposition defences, an example of which he provided last week, by notching up two assists as they edged out Bournemouth 2-1.

“He [Cherki] is different to the rest, because he can give us something special in the last third when we struggle,” Maresca said, ahead of their English Premier League tie against Crystal Palace.