“Close to the 18-yard box of the opponent he is an exceptional player.”
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Rayan Cherki following Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Brentford. The home victory confirmed City’s spot in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup. It was Cherki who fired the Cityzens ahead on the half-hour mark.
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The Frenchman’s strike was stunning. “It was a fantastic goal, a blind guy, a blind woman can realise,” Guardiola enthused afterwards. Brentford cleared a City corner as far as the former Lyon man on the edge of the box. Cherki feinted onto his right, fooling Mikkel Damsgaard, before unleashing an unstoppable effort past Hakon Valdimarsson.
Cherki has now been directly involved in a goal in four of his last six City outings. Starting in the number 10 role, Cherki was expected to pull the strings behind striker Divine Mukasa. However, the 22-year-old was used in a more advanced role once Oscar Bobb was withdrawn midway through the first half.
Guardiola’s use of Cherki vs Brentford
The decision to use Cherki as a striker once Phil Foden replaced Bobb certainly gives Guardiola food for thought.
City have relied heavily on Erling Haaland’s goals to drag them through the mire this season. Haaland was one of a number of City regulars, along with Gianluigi Donnarumma and Ruben Dias, rested in midweek.
Guardiola will have no doubt been pleased to watch his side win without needing to call upon on the Norwegian goal machine. The Premier League’s top scorer certainly enjoyed watching Cherki adopt his meditation celebration following his first half thunderbolt.
That said, the logical decision when Bobb came off on Wednesday was to move Cherki out right. It’s a position he’s played in the past for Lyon, and a role he has occupied for City this season. Ever one to experiment, Guardiola’s decision to push Cherki up front is straight out of the Spaniard’s playbook.
Guardiola isn’t afraid to deploy attacking players as a false nine. He’s done so in previous managerial positions with Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Foden has been used in the role more than once during his time with the City first team. And yet, Cherki’s success in the position is a boost for this juggernaut City side.
Cherki shone in win over the Bees
Admittedly, a much-changed Brentford outfit were second best for most of the EFL Cup clash at a rain-soaked Etihad Stadium. Yet Cherki looked to be enjoying himself with the additional freedom that comes with dropping between the lines. With the license to drift across the park, Cherki managed the eighth most touches (64) despite coming off in the 66th minute.
The France international also ranked third for touches in the opposition box (5). For context, Cherki has managed 34 touches in the opponents’ penalty area across 11 outings in the 2025-26 Premier League. Not quite Haaland levels, but a step in the right direction.
The hope, then, is that Cherki’s rapid adaptation to the new role boosts Guardiola in-game tactical flexibility. The City boss is willing to regularly tinker with his system, and the success of Cherki in a false nine in midweek is certainly a boost for his attacking options.
A side of City’s calibre will so often look to have the best attacking players on the pitch at any given time, especially when they face deep-lying defences. The key here, then, is that Cherki will bring a little more subtlety on the frontline compared to Erling ‘Braut-force’ Haaland.
Cherki’s versatility enhances Guardiola’s tactical flexibility
More often than not, City will still find a way through in their bid to breakdown deep blocks. Foden’s goal, incidentally set up by Cherki, in the 3-2 win over Leeds a case in point. However, it’s a handy option for Guardiola to utilise when needs must.
Granted, City will face tougher opponents than Brentford in a midweek EFL Cup clash this season. Even so, Cherki’s fine stint on the frontline on Wednesday night will help Guardiola in City’s bid to land silverware this season.
With Omar Marmoush now unavailable due to his participation at the Africa Cup of Nations, Cherki’s fine return to action following a spell on the sidelines couldn’t have been timed better. City have, after all, won the last games he’s started since his return from a thigh injury in October.
In a testing season where City are again expected to compete on multiple fronts, Cherki’s new-found versatility increases their chances off adding to the trophy cabinet. Cover and competition is key, and Cherki’s ability to lead the charge could prove decisive in the long run.
