Sport

Cherki Steps Up for Manchester City

If anyone was in any doubt about the importance of Rayan Cherki’s role to Manchester City, they were surely convinced by the Frenchman’s performance in the win over Nottingham Forest. Cherki was the best player on the pitch, contributing a goal and an assist to keep Pep Guardiola’s team within touching distance of Arsenal.

The Gunners continue to set the pace at the top of the Premier League table, but there is a growing sense that City have found their groove in recent weeks. Cherki’s performances have been a big part of why so many are now entertaining the notion that Guardiola and his players could end the season with the trophy in-hand.

Signed from Lyon in the summer transfer window as part of Manchester City’s squad overhaul, Cherki wasn’t the most obvious of fits for a Guardiola team. While the Frenchman’s talent was never doubted, his work ethic and general attitude was questioned before pitching up at the Etihad Stadium.

Now, though, Cherki is a symbol of how Manchester City has changed over the course of the 2025/26 season. The 22-year-old is a natural creator and has given Guardiola a different dimension to use in the final third of the pitch. Cherki’s statistics underline the impact he has made since joining from Ligue 1.

Nobody has registered more assists than Cherki in the Premier League this season. Only Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Tijani Reijnders are averaging more shots per 90 minutes than the French international while only Jeremy Doku is averaging more key passes. Cherki is an all-round creative threat.

“There are moments I shout at him and there are moments I want to kiss him, so I have that ambivalent feeling with him,” said Guardiola when asked about Cherki’s impact in the 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest. “I want to allow him to express his incredible talent. We have to play better from the back so he can get more balls from that position. The second half was a little bit better.”

Guardiola’s comments highlight the Catalan’s desire to push Manchester City to the highest level. Cherki is regularly delivering for his new team, yet Guardiola wants to squeeze even more out of the attacking midfielder. He knows the Frenchman’s potential and is managing Cherki to get the best from him.

The way Guardiola has remoulded Manchester City this season has already done a lot to harness Cherki. Indeed, the 22-year-old is being used as one of two number 10s alongside Foden with both players given the freedom to drift and exploit space wherever and whenever it appears between the lines of midfield and attack.

Technically, there are few players in the Premier League on Cherki’s level. He is gifted on the ball and is growing in confidence as Manchester City continue their run of eight wins in their last nine league games. Cherki looks fitter under Guardiola and is putting up some serious numbers to justify his place in the team.

While Guardiola’s trademark approach demands effort on both sides of the ball, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has always made certain concessions for natural playmakers. This was certainly true for Lionel Messi and Guardiola has also carved out a specific place for Cherki. He is the wildcard in City’s attack.

There’s still a long way to go until the Premier League champions are crowned at the end of the season. Arsenal still maintain a two-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table and have the squad depth to keep up the pace until May. With Cherki in his current form, however, and still getting better it would be foolish to discount the threat from the North West.