Rayan Cherki made no secret of his frustration at being left out of the starting eleven for Manchester City’s clash with Bournemouth, yet he emerged as the match-winner after being introduced from the bench.
Rayan Cherki and Enzo Maresca
Just four months prior, the young Frenchman had torn through Arsenal’s backline and found the net in what proved to be a crucial moment in the Premier League title battle. It was a pivotal contribution for someone who had, in the space of a single campaign, thrust himself into the upper echelons of English football’s finest talents.
From that high point, Cherki had to endure the heartbreak of watching City’s title challenge collapse. His World Cup adventure also fell short of expectations, with the 23-year-old finding it difficult to secure minutes on the pitch and equally unable to conceal his irritation about that situation.
As Enzo Maresca explained on Sunday following Cherki’s match-turning substitute appearance that rescued victory for the Blues, the youngster does not respond well when prevented from doing as he pleases. Maresca stated that Cherki is a straightforward individual who makes his unhappiness obvious. He noted that if Cherki was standing beside him feeling displeased, everyone would recognise that fact because he would do whatever it took to demonstrate his dissatisfaction. Maresca acknowledged he was aware Cherki had not been content that day but insisted he had been forced to make a particular call.
For some, that profile might trigger warnings. City have just aired their own preliminary concerns about Cherki’s temperament in a four-part Amazon documentary, and it is vital for dressing room harmony that those not selected continue to back their colleagues and maintain their effort levels.
Yet, moving to another revealing moment from that documentary, Pep Guardiola was unambiguous with his rotation players following their 2-0 reverse against Leverkusen. He expressed frustration, questioning why there was no competitive spirit and telling them they should feel determined to prove themselves. He used strong language, telling them they should demonstrate they were superior to their teammates. He concluded by saying he felt disappointed.
Cherki delivered precisely that response against Bournemouth; as Maresca observed afterward, what individuals must do when not given a starting role is exactly what Cherki managed on that occasion – simply stay prepared, enter the field and give maximum effort. Essentially, there is no issue.
One of City’s most spectacular fightbacks – the 3-2 turnaround against Aston Villa that secured the championship in 2022 – occurred partly because Ilkay Gundogan, Raheem Sterling and Oleksandr Zinchenko were all livid about not being selected from the start. Gundogan, one of Guardiola’s most devoted servants, was especially incensed that day and went on to become the ultimate hero.
Riyad Mahrez and Joao Cancelo represent two further examples of players who made their displeasure clear when overlooked for selection, and on certain occasions it did reduce their involvement, yet they also possessed the ability to direct those feelings constructively. Both enjoyed tremendous success at the Etihad that would have been impossible without that winning mentality.
What also warrants consideration is that Maresca spent the latter part of his summer break in Barcelona working through with Guardiola the squad he was about to inherit. While he favours bringing fresh perspective to situations, he could not ignore the insight Guardiola had accumulated about a group that bears almost no resemblance to the one Maresca departed in 2023.
Those conversations focused less on technical capability and more on temperament – which individuals responded positively when not selected, which ones categorically did not, and similar matters. There is a reason Cherki is being integrated while others have been permitted to leave this summer.
City’s transfer business is increasingly attracting scrutiny as an expanding catalogue of players brought in to refresh the squad over the past two years are being moved on. Something has clearly misfired when new signings are departing so promptly rather than remaining to compete for their spot; only Nico Gonzalez seems to occupy the position of having genuinely contested his desire to remain.
However enraged or despondent he may feel when overlooked for the first eleven, Cherki’s negative reaction represents the most beneficial variety imaginable – the kind that enters the fray and demonstrates to the manager precisely why he was mistaken. Provided he can preserve that fire, Maresca will thoroughly relish having him at City as one of the most accomplished signings in recent years that the club have managed to secure.