Man City began their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Wydad AC in Philadelphia on Wednesday.
The contest marked a new beginning for Pep Guardiola, who was keen to reiterate before the match that the Club World Cup is the start of the 2025/26 campaign, rather than the end of City’s tough 2024/25 season.
Many changes have already taken place at the Manchester club this summer, with Pepijn Lijnders and James French joining Guardiola’s new-look coaching staff, to which Kolo Toure has also been added for the Club World Cup.
Four new faces have also joined the Premier League outfit, with Rayan Cherki moving to Man City this summer, in addition to Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Marcus Bettinelli.
Cherki and Reijnders made their debuts for the Manchester club against Wydad on Wednesday, and Guardiola was not entirely pleased with what he saw from the French star.
Rayan Cherki in action for Manchester City v Wydad AC at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Photo by Carl Recine – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Rayan Cherki’s flicks annoyed Pep Guardiola
Man City fans were okay with Cherki’s performance against Wydad as supporters understand that it is early days in the 21-year-old’s career in Manchester; however, one man who was not too pleased with the midfielder was Guardiola.
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According to Man City reporter Jack Gaughan, the Spanish coach was often spotted looking like a frustrated figure after Cherki would lose possession due to little flicks he was trying to pull off.
“Doku later fluffed his lines when clean through, a chance owed to Rayan Cherki’s pressing on a debut that didn’t offer too many clues as to how his move will pan out,” Gaughan wrote for the Daily Mail.
“Guardiola seemed occasionally exasperated with the Frenchman for little flicks which lost cheap possession, yet City knew that is the sort of flair they bought from Lyon.”
Cherki’s flair is one of the reasons Man City bought the French star, and this is an element Guardiola has to be careful not to take away, as fans of the Manchester club saw what the legendary coach did to Jack Grealish, who currently looks nothing like the star that left Aston Villa in 2021.
Pep Guardiola looking annoyed at a Man City press conference.
Photo by Carl Recine – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Rayan Cherki needs to be given time at Man City
Liverpool were interested in Cherki this summer, which highlights how highly-rated the 21-year-old is within the football world.
The midfielder is undoubtedly a top talent, but the French star will need time to get used to a new league, a new team, and his new surroundings in Manchester.
Cherki may not have hit the ground running against Wydad, but the possibility of that happening was always there, as the 21-year-old has not had much time to work with his new teammates, having only joined the squad last week.
The Club World Cup is important for Cherki as it will give him crucial minutes on the pitch to iron out any issues he has at Man City before the serious stuff gets underway in August.
Fans of the Manchester club should expect big things from the midfielder throughout the 2025/26 campaign, as the former Lyon star is not likely to underdeliver.