Cherki dazzles City but his loss of ball worries France

In the echo of chants at the Etihad Stadium, Rayan Cherki ignites Manchester City supporters, delivering an evening of dribbles and creativity that recalls his meteoric rise. On Tuesday night, the young French again shone, but a surprising statistic casts a shadow over his promise made to France.

A dazzling performance in Manchester

During the 5-1 victory over AEK Athens in the Champions League, the former Lyon player scored a superb goal, sparking a wave of shares on social media. His dribbles, feints and technical moves once again captivated observers, confirming his role as an offensive virtuoso.

He touched 108 balls and attempted five shots, two records among the players on the pitch. Paradoxically, he was dispossessed eight times, the highest total recorded by a player in this edition of the Champions League.

Maresca's critiques and the stakes with France

After France's 4-1 victory over Belgium on October 5, Cherki had promised more control with the French, citing his repositioning in midfield under the direction of Zinédine Zidane. “People talk about my dribbles, but today I am in a register that forces me to play full, clean matches, and true football connoisseurs understand that,” he told TF1’s microphone, relayed by L’Équipe. He added: “It’s a different style of play: I must not lose the ball.”

At City, he retains a creative mission that allows him to take risks, while Zidane expects him to secure ball circulation and contribute to collective balance. Enzo Maresca, Manchester City’s coach, addressed these demands at a press conference on Thursday.

“I like seeing players happy, but I also like simple things. The hardest part in football is doing the easy things,” the Italian coach affirmed, specifying that he does not intend to take away Cherki’s creativity. He highlighted a problematic habit: the player’s tendency to leave offensive zones to claim the ball. “He loves the ball and loves moving a lot. Very often, he therefore finds himself out of position.”

This season, the Frenchman has six goals and two assists in eleven appearances, a remarkable output for a 23‑year‑old. The eight dispossessions against AEK illustrate the thin line between brilliant inspiration and excessive initiative.

The challenge awaiting Cherki, both with Maresca and with Zidane, is to preserve the creativity that makes him unpredictable while gaining the necessary control to reach a new level. At 23, the former Lyon player still has considerable room for improvement.