Paul Lake column: Sensational Haaland, Cherki aura, WSL title dreams and FA Cup memories | OneFootball

One of the most talented players of his generation - City cult hero Paul Lake – continues his new monthly column on mancity.com and our official app.

Men's Team

Welcome to the 100 Club: Shearer, Aguero, Fowler, Ferdinand and Heskey on latest inductee Haaland!

Lake, now a committee member of City’s relaunched former players association ‘Once a Blue’, offers his thoughts on sky blue matters.

Erling the Centurion

My congratulations go to Erling Haaland, whose record-breaking 100-goal tally in the Premier League is such a magnificent achievement.

We all were excited about the Norwegian’s potential when he arrived here from the Bundesliga, but nobody could have foreseen this young man’s sheer dominance and unplayability.

Haaland has the potential to become City’s greatest ever striker alongside the likes of Sergio Aguero, Eric Brook and Francis Lee.

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It’s almost unnerving how good he is: his power and pace, his intelligent runs, his finishing ability...he’s an absolute sensation.

And while I never like tempting fate, I do believe that he is on the way to beating Alan Shearer’s all-time Premier League goalscoring record. There’s a certain inevitability about it.

City Women flying high

It’s fantastic to see Manchester City Women at the top of the WSL tree.

I think their success this season is testament to their experience and resilience and certainly reflects well on their new coach Andrée Jeglertz.

Being so close to winning the title on so many occasions must have been a frustration, but the belief in the camp seems to have been unswerving this year.

While there’s a long way to go, City will be enjoying having their noses in front and – hopefully – will continue their good fortune over Christmas and the New Year.

I’ll be crossing my fingers during the title run.

The FA Cup: Every player’s dream

It was good to see the Blues bagging a home tie against Exeter City in the FA Cup third round draw.

The competition means a lot to me, both as a player and a supporter.

When I was a kid, FA Cup final day was the highlight of my year; almost as good as Christmas. I’d wake up at the crack of dawn, full of excitement, ready to switch on BBC or ITV to watch the pre-match build-up (both channels broadcast the game in the olden days).

There’d be a pro-celebrity golf show featuring footballers and TV stars, and then a specially-themed Question of Sport, and then they’d be live coverage of the team’s coach journeys to Wembley.

My mum would make me a packed lunch because she knew I’d be glued to the sofa for hours. Happy days.

As for this year’s campaign, it would be great for players and supporters alike if City could treat us to another trip to Wembley.

Winning a cup final is an experience that you want all players to have, especially those who are new to the club. Lifting the FA Cup is what players dream about. I did then - and still do now!

Rayan Cherki: Right player, right time...

I love watching players that have a certain aura and are something of an enigma - and Rayan Cherki definitely fits the bill. What a footballer.

He has a unique swagger and confidence about him, to an extent that whenever he receives the ball he almost demands your attention. His timing is effortless. He sees passes that other players don’t. His touch, his awareness and his balance are simply marvellous and he makes you excited about what he’s going to do next.

Exhilarating for us City fans, but frustrating for our opponents who haven’t a clue about his next move.

And his rabona assist to Phil Foden for City’s third goal against Sunderland game will be forever etched in my memory. It was spectacular. A ridiculous piece of skill. Not many players can pull that off and if it goes badly it can make you look foolish. Cherki said he did it for the fans – an early Christmas present to us all, maybe? – and it certainly got everyone out of their seats in the Etihad.

Over the years we’ve had a number of players who’ve had that unique X Factor – David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne included –  and Cherki has that in abundance. He’s wonderful to watch and, from a Pep Guardiola perspective, he’s a pivotal player flourishing at just the right time.

Warming winter wins...

Following the defeats to Newcastle United and Bayer Leverkusen, the match against Leeds was an opportunity to return to winning ways.

The first half saw some exceptional performances, from Phil Foden in particular.

The second period didn’t start well at all, however – we seemed out of sorts – and a few mistakes were made.

But that said, despite the fact that Leeds were able to get back into the game, the resilience and know-how shown by Foden in those tight areas became the difference between the teams and his brace was a pleasure to observe.

City versus Fulham was a nerve-jangling nine-goal thriller. A great one for the neutrals, but not so much for the diehards.

It was wonderful to see Erling Haaland grab his 100th goal in such an emphatic way, and our performance in the first half was brilliant; Fulham just couldn’t handle us for those 45 minutes, and we deserved our 3-1 lead.

But when you have that margin, your intensity can drop and, all of a sudden, we began to concede goals.

Fulham had nothing at all to lose, made some excellent substitutions, and came back at City. The fact that we managed to claim a victory  – winning 5-4 when Fulham battled back – was testament to City’s fortitude.

Tight games like these are great learning opportunities, though.

And as for City versus Sunderland...what a great result that was. Our opponents came to the Etihad on the back of some fantastic defensive displays – at Anfield in particular – and have proved to be a really quick side on the break.

We approached a potentially difficult game with great intensity – the kind that Pep thrives on – and in no time at all we went one goal ahead, and then two.

Cherki’s performance was scintillating from start to finish; he’s the lynchpin player that every trophy-hunting team needs. It was also very satisfying to see City scoring from a set piece...more of that next year, please!

During the football season lots of teams have dips in form, City included, but it seems we’re now back on track.

Our approach to games and our quality of play is now coming up trumps after our little blip. We’ve got our mojo back. Now watch us go.

Blues’ Christmas

December is such a busy time in football. As I know myself, players really have to try to compartmentalise the Christmas celebrations.

You can still enjoy it, and participate, and be there for your family up to a point but – from a professional perspective – it’s vital that you prioritise the festive period in football terms. You can’t lose that focus and intensity.

Difficult though it is, you have to treat it as just another week, and just another set of games.

So it’s paramount that the City lads put in solid performances over the next fortnight, and help the team obtain those vital three pointers. It’s all about being professional, being responsible and doing their job.

In fact the best way they can celebrate Christmas is by playing their hearts out, winning those games and giving the Blue faithful some extra festive cheer.

Speaking of which, on behalf of Once A Blue – the Manchester City former players’ club – may I wish supporters and their families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Here’s to a great 2026.