Do it right, okay?
Whatever you do, do, do, Lord, Lord
Do it right
Oh yeah ”
(‘Express Yourself’ – Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, 1970)
Rayan Cherki provided two assists in Manchester City’s 3-0 win against Sunderland. This brings City within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal, and Cherki’s assist tally to five, the second highest in the league. One of the two assists against Sunderland was a sublime rabona cross for Phil Foden’s header, which showcased the Frenchman’s freakish talent and his growing understanding of Foden, but also received constructive feedback from head coach Pep Guardiola.
The Rabona cross came as a result of a rapid transition. After intercepting Chemsdine Talbi’s inside ball, City quickly moved the ball forward through the center and attacked five-on-five, with Haaland passing to Bernardo Silva. Silva passed the ball to Cherki on the right flank. Cherki took on left-back Trai Hume on the outside, seemingly trying to find space from which to cross with his right foot.
But Cherki came back with a deft cut onto his left foot, deceiving the defender and buying himself a yard of extra time and space. Cherki finished the dance with a devilishly deft cross, wrapping his right foot around his left leg to find Foden, who had been swept unmarked into the penalty area. Sunderland had started the game solidly, but as the match progressed, City were able to break down the defense through interplay and transitions.
The move was not only an insight into Cherki’s ability, it was also testament to his growing understanding with Foden, who has rediscovered his own good form this season; Foden’s header means he has scored five goals in three games, making it his sixth league goal of the season, having scored just seven in all of last season.
Foden and Cherki often exchange passes in close proximity, with Cherki having space to float between the lines, whether that’s starting wide on the right, or in a more central berth.
City’s tactical approach has not limited Cherki as he can receive the ball in different areas and he has a lot of responsibility on the ball. Although Cherki has played just 398 minutes in the league, he averages more touches in the attacking third than any other City player, with 40.9 per 90.
Cherki also created the most chances of any player in the win over Sunderland, with 6. This compares with Cherki’s average for chances created so far, at 3.41 per 90, and his average for passes into the penalty area, at 3.86 per 90. So you could argue that Cherki is already an effective player when it comes to creating chances for his teammates.
Cherki has cleverness with and without the ball. Good positional sense to drop next to Foden, relieve the burden and the. Put Haaland up against Bournemouth for the second time. Quick thinking ensured that he took the lead earlier with a header. It’s not like the situation with Grealish. Points about the erratic nature of his playing.
The funny thing about the assist that provided so much traction is that Cherki is very two-footed. He is as good with his left foot as he is with his right foot; it is sometimes difficult to decipher which is his strongest foot. So while the Rabona cross proved effective and led to a well-worked goal, it was also very much in Cherki’s character and what he does on the pitch. He is a playmaker who plays extemporaneously, and with a freedom of expression that seems to know no bounds. Cherki could easily have played a simpler, less flamboyant cross with his left foot, but pulled off the rabona because it was instinctive and natural to him, even if it wasn’t entirely necessary.
During a post-match interview, Guardiola praised Cherki as ”an exceptional player”. But further comments from City’s head coach suggested he was less than impressed with Cherki’s assist, and failed to elicit the reaction he had received from the fans. Guardiola said he wants his players to do that ”Do the simple things well, and then you have a special talent and he can do whatever he wants.” Guardiola appreciates the signing he took over from Lyon this summer, but implies that regularly performing the simple actions correctly can make a player more effective. These actions cannot be overlooked, with comparisons to Lionel Messi, who according to Guardiola never plays ‘such a cross’, being positive in a way; Players are not compared to Messi by anyone, let alone Guardiola.
At the same time, comparisons with Messi don’t seem entirely fair. Yes, Messi is one of, if not the best player to play the game, and he, and Cherki, are both little dribblers who can thread a ball through the eye of a needle. But Cherki has always been flamboyant in his play, and while he still has a long way to go if he ever wants to match Messi’s sustained efficiency, Cherki’s flamboyance has helped him be effective.
”When I do this rabona, I don’t know where the ball is, I just think about putting the ball on Erling’s head [Haaland] or Foden and today is good.
I do it in all games because it’s my quality. I play like a free soul all the time because it’s my life.”
Not that Guardiola wants to give up Cherki’s ingenuity, but it’s worth saying that if he does, Cherki will be giving up what not only makes him so fun to watch, but also what makes him effective. That said, it’s also worth taking into account what Guardiola has said. It’s true that mastering the fundamentals is important, and he’s doing what he can to develop various aspects of Cherki’s overall game. And when you do that, you’re not exactly denying the player the opportunity to express themselves.
However, it is important to find a balance between the two, as efficient, repeatable and simple options on the ball prove to be more effective in tight situations. Cherki’s game seems to be all about creating openings with deception and doing what seems natural to him.
Data courtesy of FBref!
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