lead-art-block.fullscreen-enterExpandManchester City’s Rayan Cherki during a training session at the Joie Stadium, Manchester. Picture date: Thursday August 13, 2026.
Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki during a training session at the Joie Stadium, Manchester. Picture date: Thursday August 13, 2026.
Enzo Maresca revealed Rayan Cherki had not been happy on the bench before coming on to inspire Manchester City’s comeback win over Bournemouth.
Cherki set up both goals as City produced a dramatic late fightback to beat the Cherries 2-1 in their Premier League opener at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The Frenchman had been a frustrated onlooker before entering the game after 63 minutes but Maresca said he was one of a number of players still lacking full match fitness.
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca (right) hailed the contribution of Rayan Cherki
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca (right) hailed the contribution of Rayan Cherki
Maresca said: “The impact was unbelievable – he is that kind of player.
“I like Rayan, I told him also after the game, but sometimes when you plan a game and you already have (picked) four out of 11 players who arrived late (from holidays), if you go with one more maybe the difference is too big.
“Rayan is quite a nice and clear boy. If he is not happy he wants to show it and I know that he was not happy today, but at the end I had to take a decision.”
Cherki set up an equaliser for Marc Guehi from a corner after 84 minutes and then teed up Josko Gvardiol’s winner in stoppage time.
After last week’s thrashing by Arsenal in the Community Shield, it meant a first win for Maresca since succeeding Pep Guardiola as manager.
Josko Gvardiol, right, got Manchester City’s winner
Josko Gvardiol, right, got Manchester City’s winner (Nick Potts/PA)
Maresca said: “It is the perfect day. I was very pleased when the game started to see the banner and we gave the fans the joy of the three points at the end. It was quite emotional.
“The spirit was fantastic. It’s a game we deserved to win early with the amount of chances we had.”
Guehi, who missed a near identical chance before his equaliser, was deployed in an unfamiliar midfield role by Maresca alongside new signing Elliot Anderson.
With City closing in on a deal for Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille and still linked with Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, it was potentially only a short-term option but one Maresca was pleased to explore.
He said: “I know Marc from (Crystal) Palace and always thought he could be a good midfielder. It was a good performance from him. The good thing is he now gives us a solution for the future.”
Bournemouth manager Marco Rose, right, said his team did ‘many good things’ on Sunday
Bournemouth manager Marco Rose, right, said his team did ‘many good things’ on Sunday (Nick Potts/PA)
Bournemouth manager Marco Rose was pleased with the display, if not the result, after his first match in charge.
He said: “I’m a competitor and we came here to win for the first time.
“We were in a good way to do it and we did many good things.
“We have a lot of things to improve but, in the end, the way the game went was quite unlucky.
“We had two situations – one a corner and one attack where we defended too passive, and that’s why we lost the game.”