Manchester City: Cherki struggles with modern football

Known for his unique perspective, Manchester City attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki is no fan of the game as it is played today. The French international laments a lack of spectacle and enjoyment.

Rayan Cherki is a player in a league of his own, and not just on the pitch. The Frenchman also stands out for his view of football, which contrasts with certain criteria that have become essential.

The Manchester City attacking midfielder didn’t wait until this season to criticise the modern era. During his years in Ligue 1, the former Lyon player was already complaining that the sport was too focused on statistics.

Cherki and robotic football

Suffice to say that Cherki shares the view of many disappointed observers, such as Ruud Gullit. The City player also laments a lack of enjoyment. And the issue extends far beyond the Premier League, according to the French international, who is simply not a fan of the game as it is played today. “I’m not necessarily a fan of all its aspects,” the playmaker admitted in an interview with France Football. “I’d like us to say, ‘robots are fine, but magic is better’. Playing a perfect match, with 99% of passes completed, is good, but playing one with five or six flashes of genius will always be better.”

Given his mindset and profile, it’s clear that Cherki isn’t particularly keen on the emphasis placed on tactical and athletic aspects. “The amount of running isn’t a problem—quite the opposite,” he replied. “But it’s a bit frustrating because, these days, many coaches are constantly looking for the player who’ll run the furthest or jump the highest. That’s not what football is about for me.” In his view, the beautiful game belongs to artists, a rare breed. “There are players with extraordinary talent but few artists” such as “Lamine Yamal. Kylian Mbappé. Ousmane Dembélé. And Rayan Cherki,” listed the Mancunian.

The Frenchman’s mission

It is therefore with nostalgia that the ambidextrous player speaks of old-school football, that of “the 2000s, up until 2014–2016,” he clarified. “After that, it went off the rails…” Hence his ambitious mission, as he confessed to the magazine: “to help bring old-school football back into fashion. One day, I hope to achieve that.” In the meantime, Cherki will have to meet Pep Guardiola’s demands to establish himself at Manchester City, not to mention those of manager Didier Deschamps if he wants to keep his place in the France squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup.