Pep Guardiola and Rayan Cherki have put a narrative to bed surrounding the Manchester City marvel

Pep Guardiola and Rayan Cherki have put a narrative to bed surrounding the Manchester City marvel

When Manchester City signed Rayan Cherki from Lyon last summer, there were question marks surrounding how the French international would fit into a Pep Guardiola side. Cherki’s talent was never in question, however, his work out of possession was in some circles. As the 2025-26 season has progressed, Rayan Cherki has emphatically put any doubts about his fit into this City side to bed, both with his play in possession and his work to help his team out of possession in terms of his high pressing. Cherki has put any doubts about his fit into this City side to bed, as has Pep Guardiola, who explained after Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge what he expects from Cherki when his team doesn’t have the ball.

Rayan Cherki does all that he needs to do to aid the cause of Manchester City out of possession.

Rayan Cherki’s prodigious impact and talent on the ball for Manchester City is obvious to see; it has been all season. The French international has become a key player in this City side, and his last three performances against Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea show how valuable and dangerous Cherki is. At times, Cherki resembles the creative hub of this City side, especially playing in a free role of sorts that allows him to drift across the pitch from the right wing to the left. This role allows Cherki to receive the ball in dangerous areas of the final third and inflict maximum damage on Manchester City’s opponents. When Manchester City signed Cherki last summer, this was expected from him given Rayan Cherki’s proven reputation as a playmaker.

The questions that arose around Rayan Cherki’s fit into a Pep Guardiola side concerned his work without the ball, or more to the point, when possession was lost, or what role Cherki would play in Manchester City’s high press. This season, Cherki has put those doubts to bed. When possession is lost, Cherki is willing and able to help his team.

We saw this against Chelsea last Sunday. Also, Cherki is no slouch when helping his team press their opponents. This was on display when Jeremy Doku dispossessed Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo. Doku took the ball from Caceido and went on to score. Alongside Doku was Rayan Cherki. That was an overlooked, but important aspect in Manchester City’s third goal against Chelsea.

There are other examples of Rayan Cherki doing what is required out of possession for his team. But what has stood out is that the concern in some circles about Cherki’s fit into a Pep Guardiola side out of possession has proven to be wide of the mark.

Pep Guardiola only expects Rayan Cherki to do his best when pressing City’s opponents.

Speaking after his Manchester City team swept Chelsea aside at Stamford Bridge, Pep Guardiola explained what he expects from Rayan Cherki out of possession. All that Guardiola wants from Cherki is to try his best in this department of his game. Guardiola explained: “His work ethic is unbelievable knowing he doesn’t have the speed and pressing that Antoine Semenyo has that is amazing.”

“I’ve been with Sergio Aguero and Sergio Aguero was not the incredible high press player but he tried his best and all I ask is that…do your best and you can do it because he has another quality.”

“Every player has his own ability. Rayan has something special, the second goal I said choose the pass right and he passed to Marc Guéhi that I could not even see from outside. He is a top talent and again what I said, if Manchester City decide to bring that player in, it is because Manchester City is working really well.”

Rayan Cherki has shown that he is the ideal fit for Manchester City on both sides of the ball. Any questions surrounding Cherki’s fit into a Pep Guardiola side have long since been put to bed. Scarily, Cherki is producing match-winning performances in big moments in his first season as a City player. It is scary to think how much of a weapon Cherki will become for Pep Guardiola’s side the longer he plays at City.