Rayan Cherki’s flair, presence and jinking runs into pockets of space for City are a breath of fresh air and beginning to have a real impact for Guardiola’s men.
Initially, there were question marks around Cherki’s influence in the team because of how much the manager likes to have control but mainly, the concerts were around the time it takes for players to adapt to Manchester City.
Bernardo Silva has been one of the best players for City over the years, but it took the Portuguese player some time to adjust. Kevin de Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Rodri are also examples.
With Cherki however, you can see the confidence oozing from the Frenchman now as he has come into form in a crucial stage of the season.
The creativity and technical brilliance he brings is finally shining through, as he has started eight of the last nine games.
So, what is behind the former Marseille playmaker’s form?
In this article we’ll cover
Ability in the Pockets
For the goals against Nottingham Forest, Cherki scored one and created another.
It was his ability to roam freely and find pockets of space, particularly in the half-spaces that opened up Forest. In the first half, City lacked width, so Cherki took it upon himself to roam wide before coming back central later in the move.
It’s reminiscent of what De Bruyne used to do, it’s hard to defend against because you aren’t sure of where he would pop up.
City have a lot of players who can play behind the striker in that corridor of uncertainty between the defence and midfield. Tijani Reijnders, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva.
The trouble teams are having now when defending against Cherki, is they are busy marking the other three particularly when they pin defences back, so spaces begin to crop up.
He’s very valuable in these areas because he doesn’t waste time sending the ball through to an attacker.
In previous years, you may have seen City’s lynchpin attacker be more patient, wait and pass the ball back. Not Cherki though and it may be getting to a point where Cherki’s riskiness is paying off to such a level, Pep doesn’t have a choice but to pick him.
Growing in confidence
Cherki has five goal involvements in his last five league games. When you take a look at the assists and goals, it feels like they are coming from a player who is recognising that he can become one of the best in the league.
The delightful rabona assist vs Sunderland or the bravery in taking on a shot outside the box vs Forest with a minute left to play that could’ve easily gone over the bar.
Actions of a player who wouldn’t have tried this at the beginning of the season. He’s a ‘flair’ type skilful maverick who needs confidence to bring fans out of their seats.
Initially, the matchup between club and player seemed odd. City’s style of play under Guardiola has changed a lot, but the onus has largely been, through one way or another to suffocate teams with possession.
They have changed this season by bringing players who can dribble more in the centre of the pitch to give them the freedom to create space spontaneously.
Jeremy Doku has done so on multiple occasions this season and hence, the switch in style of play is helping Cherki and City thrive.
In a league where teams are heavily reliant on set-pieces, it’s salient that the move from Guardiola has been to get his creative players that play behind Haaland in the centre of the pitch.
Cherki becomes more unpredictable when he wants to sometimes start moves wide and then drift inside.
City’s magnificent form and Cherki’s growing confidence correlate to the Cityzens position in the league as before Cherki’s run of games, City were wobbling down in eighth.
Though City are not quite the dominant team of old, they are winning matches again and are on a hot streak of six league wins in a row.
It may sometimes be by one goal and in circumstances where they concede more than in the past. The games against Fulham and Leeds United spring to mind where they were in jeopardy of dropping points as they conceded six goals in those two games.
Either way, it is an extremely difficult Premier League season where even playing bottom in the league is not a foregone conclusion.
It feels as though Pep has needed to change and adapt because of this and he is leaning on Cherki’s creativity to wreak havoc and outscore the opposition.
From a neutral point of view, it’s wonderful to have a player in the league who can conjure something up seemingly out of nowhere.
For the ones out there that say ‘football is boring’ please, watch Rayan Cherki.