Gary Neville was wrong to call out Rayan Cherki... modern football needs more moments like this

"I think it's a bit too early for that if I am being honest," said Gary Neville, just moments after Rayan Cherki performed three (yes, three) kick-ups in the second-half of Sunday's Carabao Cup final. "That was a little bit arrogant."

It appears Neville wasn't the only dissatisfied customer.

On the Wembley touchline, a seething Pep Guardiola could be seen shaking his head in disappointment after his player showed a flicker of personality in a game that has become increasingly defined by structure and discipline.

Moments later, an irritated Ben White clattered into Cherki for having the audacity to showboat. "I think I might have done that myself and he (Pep) didn't like it either," added Neville, who was on commentary duty for Sky Sports.

The former Manchester United defender wasn't done there, either.

"You have always got to remember that Arsenal can get a goal and you start to look silly if you are celebrating with 20-odd minutes to go," he continued. "His team-mates will not think it's a great idea either."

Cherki was even called "disrespectful" by some sections of social media, but for a brief moment, we got to see a player express himself – something that has become a rarity, especially on the biggest stage.

I often see people yearn for the days of Ronaldinho and Jay-Jay Okocha, when players would try the audacious in an attempt to entertain. Remember that?

For many, modern football has become stale. Instead of trying to take on a man, or shoot from 35 yards, many take the easy way out. Why pass forward when you can pass back or sideways?

Chelsea fan Simon Phillips summed it up perfectly. "Modern day football for some reason wants less Cherki’s," he said. "Truth is, modern day football needs more Cherki’s more than anything else. Game’s gone. Make us fall in love with it again."

Ruud Gullit has got a point. We need more Cherki's

A recent interview with Ruud Gullit springs to mind when I think of the state of modern football. The 63-year-old, who was brought up on the Dutch 'Total Football' way of playing, has stopped watching altogether.

"I'm waiting for players who will dare to take on defenders again, someone like Lamine Yamal. I miss the joy," he said on the Dutch television channel Ziggo Sport.

"I simply don't enjoy football anymore. Everyone is just performing tasks on the pitch. Where are the players who dribble? Where are the players with guts? Everyone just passes, passes, passes, and passes some more."

It feels like football has become too predictable. Be more Cherki, people.