Manchester City supporters reacted warmly after Marc Guehi declined to keep the Man of the Match award following his side’s convincing win over Chelsea, instead handing it to teammate Rayan Cherki in a gesture that quickly drew praise online.
City secured a 3-0 victory on Sunday, delivering a powerful second-half display that strengthened their pursuit of the Premier League title.
The result came just 24 hours after Arsenal dropped points at home, allowing Manchester City to close the gap at the top of the table to six points.
Dominant display keeps City in title hunt
After a relatively even opening period, City shifted gears following the interval. Nico O’Reilly broke the deadlock moments after the restart, rising to head home and give the visitors a deserved advantage.
From there, Pep Guardiola’s side took full control. Guehi, a January arrival who has quickly settled into the team, doubled the lead with his second goal for the club.
The defender celebrated with visible emotion, underlining the importance of both the strike and the occasion.
Jeremy Doku then added a third to seal the result, capping off a polished performance that sends City into a crucial clash with Arsenal next weekend brimming with confidence.
Cherki played a pivotal role in the victory, providing assists for both O’Reilly and Guehi. His creativity and vision were central to City’s attacking threat, even if he was not officially recognised as the game’s standout performer.
During the broadcast on Sky Sports, former defender Gary Neville selected Guehi as his Player of the Match.
Neville later suggested that O’Reilly might have been his preferred choice had the young midfielder not been forced off with a hamstring injury in the second half.
Guehi’s gesture earns admiration
Despite the official decision, Guehi appeared uncomfortable accepting the individual honour.
When approached for the post-match presentation by reporter Patrick Davison, the England international instead passed the award to Cherki, acknowledging his teammate’s influence on the game.
The pair were later seen heading down the tunnel together, with Cherki smiling as he carried the yellow trophy — a moment that quickly circulated across social media.
Supporters were quick to commend Guehi’s decision, highlighting both his humility and his recognition of Cherki’s contribution.
Several fans took to X to express their admiration for the defender’s actions.
One fan wrote: “Guehi just gave the Man of the Match award to Cherki. Most humble football player.”
Another added: “Even Marc Guehi knows Cherki should’ve been man of the match loool.”
A third commented: “Guehi was flabbergasted that Cherki wasn’t given the MOTM by Neville lol.”
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While another supporter said: “Guehi giving Cherki his motm, top guy and leader.”
Speaking after the match, Guehi focused on the collective effort rather than individual recognition, reflecting a mindset that has endeared him to fans since his arrival.
“I think second half especially we did well. We just want to improve and want to get better. When you’ve got players like this guy [Cherki], it’s fantastic. We keep our feet on the ground, recover and focus on the next one.
“The most important thing is we did the job today and we focus on the game coming up now. Let’s move on to the next one.”
At a crucial stage of the season, with a defining fixture against Arsenal on the horizon, City appear not only to be finding form but also reinforcing a sense of unity within the squad.
