Rayan Cherki has undoubtedly just experienced the most accomplished week of his young career at Manchester City. Brilliant on Wednesday in the League Cup against Swansea, scorer and decisive passer, the Frenchman confirmed this Sunday against Bournemouth in the Premier League with two offerings for Erling Haaland. In four days, the former Lyonnais reminded everyone, and especially Pep Guardiola, why he is considered one of the most talented players of his generation. Long hampered by a thigh injury contracted in August and also by competition in the offensive sector of the Skyblues, Cherki had had very little playing time since the start of the season. But Guardiola, who has never hidden his admiration for the Frenchman, ended up offering him his chance: “ Rayan is one of the most talented players I have ever seen in my career. Technically, individually… He’s at the top! The question is how it fits into what we want to do, how it reads each action, what the game needs “.
Against Swansea, in the round of 16 of the League Cup, the 22-year-old playmaker did not tremble. Author of a major performance punctuated by an assist for Marmoush and a goal at the very end of the match, Cherki led City to victory (3-1). “I feel very good, I haven’t played for a long time. I’m happy to help my teammates. I just want to play, have fun and give some”he confided after the match. Four short days later, Pep Guardiola once again placed his trust in the Frenchman against Bournemouth, this time in a crucial championship match, facing the 2nd in the PL before the match. Aligned alongside Erling Haaland and Phil Foden in attack, he lit up the meeting with his technical accuracy and creativity. From the 17th minute, he delivered a superb headed pass for the Norwegian striker, before serving him again in depth for the 2-1 (33rd). Result: Manchester City won 3-1 and moved up to second place in the championship.
A natural complementarity with Haaland
At the microphone of Canal+Cherki wanted to pay tribute to his teammate: “ playing with a player of his caliber is easy, it’s simple. I don’t need to think for 50 years, or even open my eyes. By closing my eyes, I can put the ball where he needs it, the way he wants it, the way he wants it, and then he just has to do the job. Now, the coach said it well: it’s not just him who has to score on the team. We, the attackers and attacking midfielders, must also help him, score goals and be decisive. Today, I’m happy to have given him two assists. I hope he’ll put in around fifteen, or even a good twenty, by the end of the season, that wouldn’t be bad. » The link between the two men goes beyond the green rectangle. Haaland and Cherki also get along very well off the field, and this complicity is felt on the pitch: one distributes, the other concludes, a natural alchemy between an inspired passer and a surgical center forward.
However, it was not easy for the Frenchman to impose himself in such a dense squad. Pep Guardiola had often mentioned the difficulty of bringing his creators together: “It’s a possible option to play Cherki and Foden together, but you have to understand what it’s like to play in the Premier League, with the physicality that entails. We need to find the right balance. » But after his injury and his gradual return to training, Cherki came back sharper than ever, ready to make a lasting impact. The supporters, who demanded his start before the match against Bournemouth on social networks, finally saw their wish granted, and they were not disappointed. This week, Rayan Cherki not only performed: he above all offered a resounding response to Pep Guardiola and all those who doubted his place in the Cityzens project. Two matches, one goal, three assists and a clear impression: the Frenchman is well and truly launched. Since his arrival, Rayan Cherki has been decisive every 55 minutes with Manchester City: 3 goals and 4 assists in 391 minutes played. Manchester City may have just discovered their new top offensive weapon following De Bruyne’s departure to Napoli. The native of Lyon is now applying for a starting place against Dortmund this Wednesday in the Champions League.
