Rayan Cherki is now a Manchester City player. This departure from Olympique Lyonnais, where he lived several mixed seasons, marks a major turning point in the career of the young French talent. Paulo Fonseca, his former coach in Lyon, returns to the delicate context surrounding the player and the challenges that are now awaiting him at the highest European level.
Statistically, the 2024-2025 season was the best of Cherki in the Lyon jersey. He played 30 Ligue 1 games, including 22 tenure, for a total of 8 goals scored and 11 assists issued. Encouraging figures, but sometimes considered modest with regard to its potential, in particular because of its collective impact and its defensive investment, points regularly raised by Fonseca.
In an interview with The teamthe Portuguese technician insists on these aspects. “He has to change the way he has to work for the team”he judges. “Rayan has an incredible talent. Now, his big challenge will be to be a disciplined player because he plays in a team with a strong position game and always wants him to have the ball. He will have to learn it “adds the former tricolor international coach.
“He was trying”
Fonseca also recalls that defensive work has become essential, citing the example of PSG. “We have the example of PSG, which had Messi, Mbappé, Neymar together: all players must understand that we can no longer work defensively. The teams who have players like it are not the strongest, they do not win ”he explains.
For Fonseca, Rayan Cherki has always had more trouble than some of his teammates to meet expectations in terms of collective involvement: “Alex (Lacazette), for example, with me, he defended. From the first day, he applied what I asked him. It was more difficult with Rayan but he was trying. With me, he tried. »» To succeed in Manchester City, Cherki will therefore have to take a course on this plan. The fact remains that its beginnings in its new colors suggest beautiful promises.
