Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has encouraged Pep Guardiola to start “majestic footballer” Rayan Cherki in Saturday’s Premier League opener away against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The 21-year-old playmaker joined the Citizens in June for a reported £34m after enjoying a superb 2024-25 campaign for Ligue 1 outfit Lyon, scoring 12 goals and providing 22 assists in 44 appearances across all competitions.
Cherki featured four times for City at the FIFA Club World Cup, scoring his first goal for the club in a group-stage win over Al-Ain, and he has since had time to build relationships with his new teammates during pre-season.
The highly-rated France international, who **has been given the No.10 shirt**ahead of the 2025-26 season, is one of a number of players at Man City who will be tasked with filling the creative void left by Kevin De Bruyne, and McInerney believes that it will be “better for everyone” if he gains Premier League experience as soon as possible.
“I want to see Cherki play as a 10, because Cherki is a majestic footballer,” McInerney told Sports Mole ahead of Man City’s trip to Molineux.
“I think when you've got a talent that mercurial you lean into it. The sooner Cherki touches grass and plays some Premier League football I think the better for everyone. I think he's going to be a bit of a cheat code for City this season.
Manchester City's Rayan Cherki on June 18, 2025
Cherki start verdict, Man City midfield prediction made before Wolves clash
“I think he's going to be like most playmakers. He's going to need that familiarity and the patterns and the link-up play with those around him. De Bruyne always took a bit of time to find his rhythm when he came back from injuries. It's all about flow and it's the same for every player to be fair.
“I think Cherki’s going to have to learn the partnerships and the angles of the player’s runs that they make and where they're going to be, and the best way to do that is let him on the pitch.”
Although McInerney would like to see Cherki start against Wolves, he would not be too surprised to see Guardiola take a more conservative approach to Man City’s opening fixture, with Reijnders, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan all tipped to start in midfield.
“Conservative Pep goes Reijnders, Bernardo, Gundogan. Less conservative Pep goes for Reijnders, Gundogan, Cherki,” he added. “I think it’s going to be Reijnders, Gundogan and Bernardo. I think those three that played in the second half against Palermo (3-0 friendly win last weekend).
“I think he’s going to lean on the experience. Gundogan played the deepest as a sort of quasi-six (against Palermo) with Bernardo alongside him, and Reijnders is going to be allowed to bomb forward.
“That probably going to mean that Cherki begins on the bench, which is going to frustrate a lot of City fans, but I think away from home in the first game of the season he's going to be a little bit cautious. I think he's going to go for the seniority there.”
McInerney continued: “My dream scenario is that I want to see Nico Gonzalez get a chance. I want to see what he can do. I don't mind if it's Gundogan or Bernardo there instead, but I want to see Nico alongside Reijnders... I would start Cherki. I'd start Reijnders definitely. Then after that, one of the few players it could be.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on April 12, 2025
Man City will “look to make a statement” against Wolves
After watching Man City endure a turbulent 2024-25 campaign in which they failed to win a major trophy, McInerney is optimistic that Guardiola and co will begin the new season on a positive note and believes that they will “look to make a statement” against a Wolves side who have lost nine of their last 10 league meetings with the Citizens.
“I don't know how Guardiola is going to line up and obviously my confidence could change, but City's side should be beating Wolves,” said McInerney.
“I think there's going to be a real focus on making a solid first impression on the season, with the changes in coaching and the changes in staff and the new players. I'm confident about the City side this season.
“I don't know how confident yet because I think there's too many variables and the squad isn't settled and it's very hard to say until we see the new signings settle in, but I think we've signed some really good players. We're only really a right-back away from an incredibly good window. We've had a very good window.
“I'm quite confident about it and I think City are going to look to make a statement. There's no guarantee that we'll do well. We’ll see what shape Wolves are in, but the same could be said for City. We don't know until we see them.”
McInerney has also given is verdict on whether Man City are now better equipped to cope without the presence of injured midfielder Rodri following the arrival of new players this summer.
> Click this link to view and listen to the full discussion.
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