On Saturday night, Manchester City dropped points at the London Stadium after a 1-all draw against West Ham. Despite controlling the match and limiting West Ham to a single shot, City was unable to secure a win, primarily due to a corner kick error by Gianluigi Donnarumma that allowed Konstantinos Mavropanos to capitalize. Although City dominated possession, they struggled with creativity and urgency, a situation that improved only after Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, and Phil Foden were substituted into the game.
Given the circumstances, Saturday night’s match seemed like a perfect opportunity for Cherki to start. With his vision, passing ability, and knack for the unexpected, Cherki has the tools to break down a low defensive block. Once he entered the match, Cherki indeed began to create chances. However, Pep Guardiola’s reasoning for not starting him against West Ham raises eyebrows when reflecting on recent performances.
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Guardiola explains Cherki’s recent absence from the starting lineup
Pep Guardiola provided insight regarding Cherki’s omission from the starting eleven, opting instead for Antoine Semenyo to play the number ten role. While Semenyo found himself in promising positions, his skill set didn’t quite capitalize on those chances. Had Cherki occupied those spaces, the outcome might have differed. Guardiola stated, “We learned from earlier when playing with Erling [Haaland], Jeremy [Doku], and Cherki that we are incredibly unbalanced. We lacked the stability that teams in the Premier League need.”
“That’s why I’m trying to manage it. The team is growing, and I believe we have improved significantly, but there’s still more to accomplish.”
“I love having Rayan [Cherki] on the pitch. His impact off the bench has been fantastic.”
“However, sometimes he lacks the speed; the team was more stable with Antoine Semenyo and Nico O’Reilly on the wings, as they integrated well into the box.”
“I’m still searching for the best approach to achieve consistent stability as a team.”
Options for enhancing City’s stability and incorporating Cherki
Guardiola’s response regarding Cherki’s exclusion prompts a closer examination of his team selection, especially in light of his choices against Real Madrid. His emphasis on finding stability on the pitch is notable.
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Earlier in the season, when Cherki and Phil Foden were in the lineup, Rodri was unavailable. Since his return to fitness, Rodri has been central to the midfield alongside Nico O’Reilly and Bernardo Silva. There’s no reason why Cherki cannot start on the right and drift centrally while O’Reilly pushes forward. Pairing two of Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, Antoine Semenyo, or Omar Marmoush with them would provide ample offensive quality. With O’Reilly, Silva, and Rodri supporting from behind, City would gain the necessary midfield stability. This approach could seamlessly include Cherki in the starting eleven.
Another aspect of Guardiola’s rationale appears inconsistent. Why would Savinho be thrust into the starting lineup against Real Madrid after just one standout performance against Newcastle? Adding Savinho alongside Haaland, Semenyo, and Doku diminished the stability of City’s formation. Cherki’s ability to provide balance and control could have greatly benefited the team’s possession play at the Bernabeu, making Guardiola’s reasoning even more puzzling considering recent events.
Concluding thoughts
While I don’t believe that starting Rayan Cherki will resolve all of Manchester City’s issues, his presence could address the team’s evident need for creativity and the capability to penetrate a low defensive block. Cherki undoubtedly offers a superior option compared to Antoine Semenyo in the number ten role. Guardiola’s explanation regarding Cherki’s absence reflects a desire for stability, but it may now be time to integrate Cherki into the starting lineup to see if he can provide the spark that the team desperately needs.