Rayan Cherki’s Growing Role at Manchester City
Rayan Cherki is challenging the belief that he was too individualistic to succeed under Pep Guardiola after impressive performances in his last two games for Manchester City.
Performance Highlights
Despite making his first Premier League start in 10 weeks due to a thigh injury sustained in August, Cherki played a crucial role by assisting both of Erling Haaland’s goals against Bournemouth on Sunday. While Haaland’s scoring seemed inevitable, Cherki’s contributions were less expected and demonstrated his growing impact on the team.
Early Career and Reputation
Cherki first gained attention as the youngest scorer for Lyon at just 16 years old in January 2020. Although his talent was widely recognized, his personality often raised concerns. He experienced public disagreements with nearly all six coaches he played under at Lyon, which cast doubts on his suitability for Guardiola’s disciplined approach.
Challenges and Guardiola’s Trust
Guardiola has previously had difficult relationships with strong-willed players like Samuel Eto'o, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sergio Aguero, and Joao Cancelo. Cherki’s signing initially seemed risky for Manchester City, but so far the gamble is proving beneficial.
"The danger of making him believe he is already one of the best players on the planet." — Rudi Garcia, Cherki’s debut coach at Lyon
Summary
Rayan Cherki is overcoming his reputation for individualism, gradually earning Pep Guardiola’s trust through impactful performances at Manchester City.