Rayan Cherki has made a strong start under Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca, but his growing effectiveness as a substitute is a role the club cannot afford to make permanent.
The attacking midfielder, brought to the club by former boss Pep Guardiola, is known for his maverick style and ability to roam and hunt for the ball. Guardiola previously described his ambivalent feelings toward Cherki, saying in December: "There are moments I shout at him and there are moments I want to kiss him, so I have that ambivalent feeling with him. I want to allow him to express his incredible talent. We have to play better from the back so he can get more balls from that position."
Finding the Right Balance
Getting Cherki into the right positions has continued to be a topic under Maresca, who has tussled with letting the midfielder express himself while balancing team needs. Already this season, Maresca has taken Cherki off at half-time when things were not working, such as in the Paris Saint-Germain match, where he was marked out of the game and City looked better without him.
Despite these blips, Maresca has mostly started Cherki, clearly trusting his "magician." On two occasions this season, he has chosen to start Cherki on the bench and bring him on to change the game.
Impact Off the Bench
Cherki's first cameo came against Bournemouth on the opening weekend. He was on the pitch for only 27 minutes but managed two assists and, according to Opta, created four chances, more than any other player on the pitch.
After impressing in midweek against Brighton, Cherki was one of ten changes for the next match. Introduced as a substitute, he again had an impact, with two shots, two chances created, and 17 passes into the final third, according to Opta. He may not have produced an assist, but as a substitute he provides a threat for a tired defence.
Starting Role Expected
Explaining his decision to start Ayyoub Bouaddi over Cherki and Phil Foden, Maresca said on Saturday: "I expected a physical game. Analysing them, watching them they are aggressive man-to-man. I watched the games they have played. I think it was a good idea to start with three physical midfielders and I was also thinking about last 20-30 minutes to refresh with Rayan, Allan, Phil. In this moment it is like this and we need just to move on."
Using Cherki in that "finisher" role off the bench is effective, but it would surprise no one to see him in the starting line-up on Wednesday night against RB Leipzig. As much as it is a bonus to have a player like Cherki come off the bench to test a tiring team, that is not what the Blues want or need from him. Cherki is too good to be started on the bench, and when the big games come along he will be in the starting line-up. But if he ever needs a rest, having a game-changer who has shown he can win matches coming off the bench is no bad option.
