Cherki’s Promising Start at Manchester City: Embracing the Guardiola Philosophy

Rayan Cherki represents one of the most significant acquisitions made by Pep Guardiola’s recruitment team as they headed into the 2025-26 season. The Etihad-based club invested a remarkable £34 million to persuade the French club Lyon to part with their star player, who has tallied 29 goals and 45 assists across 185 matches for the Ligue 1 side. Excited about joining Manchester City, Cherki has already displayed signs of his traditional approach to football since his arrival. Although he initially faced challenges in settling in due to an injury that kept him sidelined for a period, he is gradually finding his place within Guardiola’s system. In just 13 appearances, he has already contributed to eight goals, comprising four goals and four assists.

In a recent interview with TF1, Cherki expressed his desire to enjoy playing under Guardiola’s guidance. He clarified that he does not set statistical targets for himself but aims to match or surpass his previous season’s performance, which included 12 goals and 20 assists in 44 matches.

Cherki stated, “I’m not a stats guy. You can see that in the way I play football. I consider myself an old-school footballer, and the ‘old-school’ mentality didn’t focus on statistics, even though they hold significant importance today.”

Reflecting on his initial days at City, Cherki revealed his old-school mentality when he expressed frustration at Manchester United’s victory over Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals. He remarked, “I didn’t like it when Manchester United won against Lyon because I’m a Lyonnais. Now I am looking forward to the opportunity to face them. I’m here to win every game.” He added, “I’m not Kevin De Bruyne; he is a legend. My aim is to support the team and create my own legacy. Pep was very clear about wanting me. He told me, ‘when you have the ball, you are free,’ which is ideal for me as it aligns with my strengths in helping the team.”

Laurent Blanc, Cherki’s former coach at Lyon, has also commented on what the young star, who has made just four starts this season, needs to secure a regular position in City’s starting eleven.

In a conversation with L’Equipe, as cited by the Mirror, Blanc remarked, “I don’t know whether it’s street talent or innate ability, but he is full of it. There are not many players like him; he is indeed a rare gem. In media parlance, he is often referred to as a rising star. He has no technical limitations. His challenges will be more tactical and physical. Recently, I had the pleasure of seeing him, and he has improved physically, emerging as one of the very best.

“If he can adapt tactically, he will hold a significant advantage. His talent and brilliance make him a standout player. He simply needs to find a coach who believes in him, and I believe he has. Due to his skill and natural ability, he does not succumb to pressure; his passion for the game keeps him grounded. However, the stakes are about to get higher. We will become increasingly demanding. I understand that it’s difficult for coaches to field him given the pressure for results, but he deserves playing time and the freedom to express himself. With Rayan, you will always stand a better chance of winning than losing.”

In City’s last league match against Liverpool, Cherki managed to secure 53 minutes of playing time before the November international break. As the team prepares to face Newcastle United on November 22, Cherki will be eager to increase his playing time against a struggling Magpies side. With teammates Jeremy Doku and Erling Haaland, he could enhance the team’s attacking prowess and support Haaland in continuing his exceptional form from the World Cup qualifiers. Moreover, Cherki’s goal-scoring ability will be crucial for Guardiola as they aim to overcome a Newcastle team looking to rebound after a heavy 3-1 defeat to Brentford in their previous outing.