Rayan Cherki has had a magnificent debut season with Manchester City. In 46 appearances in all competitions, the French international scored 10 goals and added 13 assists. Those numbers only tell part of the impact Cherki has had for his team. Cherki is a true match-winner who can break a game with a piece of magic. As City chase a domestic treble this season, Cherki’s talent is a weapon City possess that Arsenal do not. Having said all that, when Cherki signed for Manchester City from Lyon last summer, doubts arose over whether or not the French international was Pep Guardiola’s player. Those doubts have been completely dispelled, as Pep Guardiola himself has pointed out.
During the embargoed section of his press conference ahead of Manchester City’s Premier League match against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Pep Guardiola was asked if Rayan Cherki was a typical Pep Guardiola player. The Manchester City boss quickly dismissed any notion that Cherki would not fit into his team. He explained: “Good question! Who is my typical player? (Ilkay Gundogan) Yes, give me another one. (Lionel Messi) Yes… “I don’t have typical players, no matter how much they like to play. If he’s not my typical player, what he’s doing isn’t bad for the first season.”“
“I don’t believe in that… There are good players and not good players. strong here [in the mind]and not strong. “If you are a good and strong player here, you can play in all the teams, the big teams in the world, and normally the big teams are guided by the best coaches. So, of course, he can play, it’s my style, my type… All the players I have here are my type of players, all of them.“
Any idea that Rayan Cherki does not fit into a Pep Guardiola team has long been dismissed. Pep Guardiola did not need to confirm this information. It has stood out throughout this season to see Cherki grow in importance to this Manchester City team. A perfect example of this was Manchester City’s recent 3-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Rayan Cherki opened a must-win game for his team with two assists, his assist on Marc Guehi’s goal in particular was a piece of magic that only he can produce. That performance by the French international showed how important he is to his team and further illustrated that Cherki is indeed a Pep Guardiola player.
Rayan Cherki will have a big role to play in Manchester City’s quest for a domestic treble this season. His ability to start a game has the potential to tip the title race in Manchester City’s favor. Match winners like Cherki are worth their weight in gold, and it won’t be a surprise to see Cherki make a big impact in the final games Manchester City play this season.
Pep Guardiola has dismissed any idea that Rayan Cherki is not a typical Pep Guardiola player. He really didn’t need it, as Cherki’s performances have done exactly that this season. Rayan Cherki is crucial for Manchester City and is emerging as a vital player for his team this season and in the future.