It was a classic “Welcome to the Prem” kind of game. If he left the game against Wolves thinking “what’s the fuss all about” well this game will change his mind.
I honestly didn’t see much issues with his running or defensive work. It’s also true that the best chances usually had him involved.
What concerns me is his movement on the ball. Pep has always been adamant that the ball should reach his attacking midfielders high up the pitch. You don’t need to drop deep so much, it comes to you.
Cherki has a habit of always wanting to drop deep to get the ball. I believe over time this habit will likely be coached out of him.
When you consolidate territory high up the pitch it doesn’t matter as much, but when you’re playing back to goal and trying to out manoeuvre an intense M2M press your movement is everything.
He was lost. He had to consistently look at Pep for instructions. He wasn’t sure if he should drop wide or come deep.
He has the technical skills to be involved in build-up, but he still needs to learn how to dismark himself and how his movement doesn’t necessarily need to end with him touching the ball (learn to create space for his teammates instead).
I hope this is something he’ll learn over time. Cherki hasn’t come across a high M2M intense press where he needed to help build up play from the back. There will be an adaptation period.
Although within that adaptation period it will be interesting to see whether Pep gives him more chances at #10, or if he’s stuck at RW/False 9 shifts until he understands the system better.
Moving forward over the next few months, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s only allowed to play #10 against teams who park the bus and don’t press high.
