Gary Lineker believes a new Manchester City relationship is already showing great potential ahead of the 2025-26 Premier League season.
Manchester City are in the process of putting a terrible campaign behind them as they compete in the newly expanded Club World Cup.
Pep Guardiola’s side have won their two opening games, though the 2-0 victory over Morocco’s Wydad AC was far from smooth sailing as Rico Lewis was sent off late on.
Monday’s 6-0 destruction of Al Ain, from Abu Dhabi, was much more emphatic as Ilkay Gundogan bagged a brace while Claudio Echeverri scored his first goal for the club with a scrumptious free kick.
Elsewhere, Oscar Bobb, Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland all got on the score sheet, with the Blues only sitting behind Group G leaders Juventus by one goal ahead of their meeting on Thursday.
After a slow start against Wydad, Cherki enjoyed a very good display and is making an impact following his £34m switch from Lyon.
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Pundit Gary Lineker believes the Frenchman is already forming a good attacking partnership with Haaland.
Ryan Cherki scores a goal for Manchester City against Al Ain.
Photo by Shaun Botterill – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki already look a dangerous pairing
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker explained how Haaland and Cherki look like they are developing a relationship that could prove deadly in the forthcoming Premier League and Champions League campaigns.
He said: “Well, they’ve certainly got some new players.
“There’s a lovely bit of play, wasn’t there, between Cherki and Haaland for that goal.
“Which may bode well for that kind of relationship that they might have together throughout this tournament and the season ahead.”
The link-up play mentioned came in the final minutes of the game when the pair combined to score a brilliant goal.
Cherki allowed a pass from Gundogan to go through his legs to Haaland, then moved into space for the return pass before blasting the ball into the bottom corner for the game’s sixth goal.
Haaland and Cherki face real test against Juventus
Cherki only came on for the final 16 minutes against Al Ain but looked much sharper than he did on his debut.
Yet, it’s all well and good being able to impress when already four goals up against a vastly inferior team and the first real test for the forward will come on Thursday.
City face European competition for the first time in the tournament when they take on Italian giants Juventus and they are taking the competition just as seriously as Guardiola.
An interesting and competitive game is in store, and it would be intriguing to see Haaland and Cherki start together so they can continue to foster their relationship and see how they fare against a quality side.
If the pair link up to great effect again against the Old Lady, then Lineker might just be right about how effective the relationship could be in the new season.