10 | Rayan Cherki - 2025/26

[oakiecokie]

I seem to recall Mancini giving Mario a bollocking when he tried some trick shot and missed an open goal. I think it was only a friendly pre-season game but Roberto wasn't best pleased.

He tried to back heel it after having the goal at his mercy the dick head.Pep was really fuming about that even for a friendly game.

 

[Godzilla]

I was thinking recently that we’re 1 play short of mounting a title challenge and Semenyo would be that man if we can get him in January, but Cherki is looking ready to fill that gap, Pep obviously knows what he’s doing!

 

[Blu1]

I hope peps comments don’t get in his head and he 2nd guesses his next move. He’s a player who plays with impulse. No need for pep to say what he did

 

[Blue warrior]

Isn't James Garner at Everton?

Yes he’s the Maverick of all Maverick’s.

 

[oldius]

I was thinking about this during the game. They obviously had that moment where Dias gives them a gold-plated opportunity and if they score, things may have been different. Then they hit the post soon after. In other games we would have been at total panic stations for the last 30 minutes, but it was very notable how Cherki got onto the ball and just slowed everything down, literally walking with the ball at one point - and within 5-10 mins we were back in control again. That's the kind of composure he showed during Fulham. He is a tempo-setter, and I don't think we have enough of them in the team at the moment, which is one of our biggest issues.

Absolutely...because he is so sure of his technique. He has a supreme confidence in his ability and, as Pep has said, he was probably always the best, at every age he played at. On the ball, he is supreme, and defenders cannot contain him because he can go either way, with either foot. To be the leading chance creator in European football for a club that finished in sixth place in their league is crazy, and now he must again be right up there in chances created per minute on the pitch, in his first season in a new country. He has the potential to be the best, IMO.

 

[SilverFox2]

Assuming Pep is correct and simple things should be encouraged, I wonder how simple scoring chances should be assessed.

For instance should shooting between the goalies legs be condoned or missing a simple sitter which often occurs with our team or conversely the Dias 30 yarder what are the chances against say a few yards closer before shooting. All are shooting chances which frankly are much more important from a goal perspective than creating such chances.

City have always created chances but until Haaland no-one could convert them

 

[uwerosler28]

Pep at it again trying to take him down a peg or too rather than encouraging him.

 

[moomba]

Think people are making way too much of Peps comments.

 

[oldius]

Assuming Pep is correct and simple things should be encouraged, I wonder how simple scoring chances should be assessed.

For instance should shooting between the goalies legs be condoned or missing a simple sitter which often occurs with our team or conversely the Dias 30 yarder what are the chances against say a few yards closer before shooting. All are shooting chances which frankly are much more important from a goal perspective than creating such chances.

City have always created chances but until Haaland no-one could convert them

We had multiple players scoring and creating: Mahrez, Aguero, Sterling, Sane, DeBruyne, Foden, Silva. Of course people converted chances, we are record PL goalscorers.

 

[Fiftyyearsandcounting]

Attempting trick shots is fine and entertaining, but only if we are comfortably ahead, like 5-1!

 

[Bluewonder]

Pep at it again trying to take him down a peg or too rather than encouraging him.

Think he knows what he's doing with young creative midfielders but why don't you write him an open letter explaining how he's getting it wrong.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Absolutely...because he is so sure of his technique. He has a supreme confidence in his ability and, as Pep has said, he was probably always the best, at every age he played at. On the ball, he is supreme, and defenders cannot contain him because he can go either way, with either foot. To be the leading chance creator in European football for a club that finished in sixth place in their league is crazy, and now he must again be right up there in chances created per minute on the pitch, in his first season in a new country. He has the potential to be the best, IMO.

It’s funny that Pep mentioned Messi because certain aspects of Cherki’s game reminds me of him. That aspect of tempo setting, his complete confidence on the ball, the dribbling skill. He has a long way to go to be anywhere near him but I haven’t seen a footballer quite like him at City since the takeover.
I hope that Pep can help him hone what he has to become a world beater because he has the raw materials. I hope he has the mentality.

 

[Gaz76]

It’s funny that Pep mentioned Messi because certain aspects of Cherki’s game reminds me of him. That aspect of tempo setting, his complete confidence on the ball, the dribbling skill. He has a long way to go to be anywhere near him but I haven’t seen a footballer quite like him at City since the takeover.
I hope that Pep can help him hone what he has to become a world beater because he has the raw materials. I hope he has the mentality.

I think people are reading into peps comments far too much, especially as it's in a press conference where he regularly takes the piss out of the press.
Tells a lot when asked about cherki he thought about Messi,, he never mentions Messi when asked about Rico Lewis and savino

 

[SilverFox2]

We had multiple players scoring and creating: Mahrez, Aguero, Sterling, Sane, DeBruyne, Foden, Silva. Of course people converted chances, we are record PL goalscorers.

I think you may find we were still guilty of not scoring when compared with the chances.
I remember well many games where we had many shots on goal yet were defeated by a single breakaway in fact it seemed Pep got rid of the culprits after a season or two and Harland was bought.

 

[oldius]

I think you may find we were still guilty of not scoring when compared with the chances.
I remember well many games where we had many shots on goal yet were defeated by a single breakaway in fact it seemed Pep got rid of the culprits after a season or two and Harland was bought.

It happens with every team, but we scored more points and goals than anyone.
Haaland also misses chances.

 

[Nightmare Walking]

His assist yesterday goes into the top 3 pieces of skill by a City player, that I have seen.
Its up there with the Gio goal and the Rocky Rocastle pirouette for the Grithiths goal

 

[JewelZee]

That assist looked brilliant, and it was, but the danger is that because it came off once he'll be wasting many good opportunities by trying similar high risk tricks in search of the spectacular which will rarely come off.
I'm with Pep on this.

Stop it...

 

[SilverFox2]

It happens with every team, but we scored more points and goals than anyone.
Haaland also misses chances.

Correct on both counts.

My main point is that it is strange to criticise an assist that resulted in a goal because it could have gone wrong rather than good goal scoring chances that do go wrong if missed.

 

[oldius]

Correct on both counts.

My main point is that it is strange to criticise an assist that resulted in a goal because it could have gone wrong rather than good goal scoring chances that do go wrong if missed.

In isolation, absolutely. I suspect the intention was more to keep Rayan's feet on the ground. He had a startling game, but missed a couple of opportunities to play people in by doing the simple thing. Imagine how good he will be if he can manage to keep the incredible skill and inventiveness, but meet it with off the ball effort and team-play - he will potentially be the best player in the world...bar none.

 

[rodrizontal]

Correct on both counts.

My main point is that it is strange to criticise an assist that resulted in a goal because it could have gone wrong rather than good goal scoring chances that do go wrong if missed.

Pep didn't criticize the assist. I think Pep was talking in general.