Manchester City midfielder has been praised as a “special talent” but needs to adapt to the tactical aspect of the game
Rayan Cherki says he is focused on improving his game rather than chasing statistics as he adapts to Manchester City and the demands of Pep Guardiola.
The 22-year-old joined from Lyon in the summer for around £34m and has started to play a more consistent role in the side after injuries initially limited his appearances.
Cherki arrived with a reputation as one of Ligue 1’s most creative young talents, producing 74 goal contributions across 185 matches for Lyon. City see him as a long-term attacking option who can play both in midfield and across the forward line.
Thirteen games into his first Premier League season, he has four goals and four assists, which is a decent return given his limited minutes so far. But Cherki isn’t too interested in those numbers.
“I’m not a stats guy,” said the 22-year-old. “I think that you can see that in the way that I play football. I’m an old-school footballer, and the ‘old-school’ didn’t look at stats. I know that nowadays that element is very important.”
There is room for players to step up in Guardiola’s team as a whole this season, with Erling Haaland currently the only one performing at a world-class level. One of the people who know Cherki best, former Lyon manager Laurent Blanc, said the player could reach this level if he can adapt to Guardiola’s demands.
“I can assure you that there aren’t many players like him – he’s a rare gem,” Blanc told L’Équipe. “He has no technical limitations. His limitations will be more tactical and physical.
“Physically he’s changed, and for the better. If he adapts tactically, he’ll have a huge advantage. He just needs to find a coach who trusts him. And I think he has.”
Guardiola has already called the player one of the biggest talents he has ever managed.
“Rayan is one of the huge stars I have ever seen in my career,” said Guardiola. “Technically and individually he is top. The question is how he settles and what we are going to do, how he reads the game and every action the game needs.”
Cherki’s France teammate and captain Kylian Mbappe praised him as a “special talent”.
“I think he has a gift, which he’s making the most of,” said Mbappe. “It’s an innate, spectacular talent.”
