Maresca Explained Reason Why Cherki Start From the Bench
Rayan Cherki proved decisive as Manchester City secured a dramatic victory over Bournemouth on Sunday evening, with the French midfielder coming off the bench to provide two assists in his side’s late comeback.
Playing at the Etihad Stadium, City found themselves trailing after Marcus Tavernier gave Bournemouth the lead. The hosts were unable to find a breakthrough for much of the match, but eventually turned the game around in the closing stages.
Cherki was introduced after half-time and immediately added greater creativity to City’s attack. His influence became decisive six minutes from full time when he supplied the assists for Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol, who scored the goals that completed City’s comeback.
The turnaround ended Bournemouth’s hopes of securing a first Premier League point under Marco Rose. Cherki’s performance also earned praise from City manager Enzo Maresca, who explained why he had initially opted to keep the former Lyon player on the bench.
“Rayan’s impact on the team was incredible. He is a very good player and I like him a lot. I spoke to him a lot after the game. I know he was not happy, but ultimately, I am the one who makes the decisions,” Maresca said, as quoted by the Irish Examiner.
The Italian coach revealed that several of City’s players are still adapting after returning from international duty at the 2026 World Cup. Maresca believes those players are not yet at their best physically, which influenced his decision-making before the match.
“There are four players in the team who have just returned from the World Cup, and I think their condition is still not perfect,” Maresca explained.
Despite the frustration of starting on the bench, Cherki responded in the best possible way once given his opportunity. His creativity changed the match and ultimately helped City collect all three points.
Maresca also praised the 23-year-old’s personality, describing him as calm and open while acknowledging that Cherki is not afraid to express his emotions.
“Rayan is a calm and open guy. If he is not happy, he will show you. If he is sitting next to me and he is not happy, we will know it because he will do everything he can to show us how he feels,” Maresca added.
Cherki’s performance could now give the France international a strong case for more playing time in the coming matches. After making a decisive impact from the bench, the midfielder has once again demonstrated the creative qualities that made him one of Europe’s most highly rated young attacking players.
For Manchester City, meanwhile, the comeback provides another early sign that Maresca has plenty of attacking options at his disposal. Cherki’s ability to influence matches from the bench could prove particularly valuable as the club balances a demanding domestic and European schedule.
