‘In difficult moments, it’s like a friendly game’ – Guardiola hails Man City star as ‘one of the most unbelievably talented players’ he has seen

‘In difficult moments, it’s like a friendly game’ – Guardiola hails Man City star as ‘one of the most unbelievably talented players’ he has seen

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hailed Rayan Cherki as “one of the most unbelievably talented players” he has ever seen.

The 22-year-old joined City from Lyon for just £30m in the summer but has already started to excel in his first season at the Etihad.

“I’m really surprised,” admitted Guardiola. “He’s one of the most unbelievably talented players I’ve ever seen.

“In difficult moments, in a lot of pressure, it’s like a friendly game. So it doesn’t matter, and that is so difficult to find. I think, as a manager, as a sports director, it’s the biggest attribute I would like to find in a player for a team to sign.

“The impact in the first season of the Premier League, in terms of assists, goals, and him being angry when he doesn’t play because he wants to help, and these kinds of things, surprised me a lot. I’m really incredibly pleased for the first season here in the Premier League.”

Prior to his transfer there had been questions asked of the Frenchman’s attitude. However, there has been no evidence of any such problem so far during his time in Manchester.

City’s boss continued: “In the future, hopefully he can stay for longer, because he has the attributes to be one of the top, top teams’ players. He has attributes that are difficult to find.

“It’s just, when you have a lot of time here, how will his behaviour be to stay humble enough. To stay and work for the team. To say ‘okay, this is my role, I’m going to do it for the team.'”

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Cherki is certainly a flair player and that has been on display in recent weeks, with him showboating at times against both Arsenal and Liverpool. “I think he’s a little bit of a free soul,” said Guardiola. “You have to understand, every player is completely different.

“You have to understand it, everyone is everyone, and you have to let them express themselves. Always be who they are.”

The Catalan has already managed some of the best players in the world in Cherki’s position during his time at City – namely Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva. Asked if the Frenchman has the potential to be the next in line, he answered: “Yeah. He has the ability and quality in the final third.

“Because in the final third he has something that I like a lot with attacking players, how they play with their rhythms. Accelerate, decelerate, accelerate, decelerate, immediately attack, and after stop, and everybody stop, and after accelerate again.

“These players have this ability to play with the rhythm for the opponents. They have the vision to make a surprise, that for me defines the best.

“One guy can be incredibly fast. But if he doesn’t know to stop and accelerate again, he never will be a top, top, top player.

“And Cherki in that is extraordinary. But really, really extraordinary. Because he accelerates, stops, all the defenders stop, and after he has the ability to make a pass and assist and shoot.

“And that’s why we need him close to the final third. For his talent, to help us, to assist, to shoot, to score goals, because it’s his biggest strength.”

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