Why Rayan Cherki deserves more than 45 minutes for Manchester City

Why Rayan Cherki deserves more than 45 minutes for Manchester City Rayan Cherki has scored six goals and added two assists for Manchester City so far this season in twelve appearances across all competitions . At his best, Cherki has been a devastating attacking force for Enzo Maresca’s side. When Cherki is on, he has been a frustrating figure who can be on the periphery of matches and also give the ball away in dangerous positions of the pitch. Rayan Cherki is 23 years of age and is still developing the consistency required to be an elite player in every game he plays. However, across this season Cherki has been substituted at half time on four occasions. Outside factors have contributed to this, but you do feel that Cherki isn’t a player who should consistently be taken off at the interval. Rayan Cherki has been taken off at halftime of four matches so far this season. There are mitigating factors that saw Rayan Cherki substituted at halftime in four matches this season. Against Norwich City in City’s 5-0 Carabao Cup third round tie win, Cherki played a half, scored and was taken off. That was understandable. In Manchester City’s 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford, Cherki was replaced by Iliman Ndiaye as Enzo Maresca had to shuffle his pack following Phil Foden’s red card. Manchester City were 3-0 down to PSG in their UEFA Champions League league phase matchday two fixture. Enzo Maresca rang the changes and Rayan Cherki came off at halftime as Maresca moved to bolster his midfield and change his attacking options. That move almost worked as City went down 4-2 but should have taken something out of the match. Lastly, Rayan Cherki was on a yellow card in Manchester City’s 2-1 loss to Aston Villa on the weekend. He was replaced by Phil Foden at the interval. The four times that Rayan Cherki was taken off at halftime are understandable. But by taking Cherki off at halftime does rob Manchester City of their game-breaker. That is an issue although Enzo Maresca’s decision is justifiable as the case laid out above states. City need Rayan Cherki’s magic on the pitch and not on the bench when the going gets tough. When Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 4-1 at Selhurst Park earlier this season, Rayan Cherki was almost taken off at halftime of that match. Instead, Maresca left Cherki on and he bagged a brace and helped City pick up a precious three points that night. That is what Cherki offers when he isn’t taken off at halftime. Also, City need Cherki on the pitch as he is a player who can break open a match in an instant. In a sense, Manchester City missed Cherki’s game-breaking ability against Aston Villa at Villa Park on the weekend. Following Nicolas Jackson’s second goal, City’s attacks often came to nothing. You could not help but think that Cherki would have offered more than Enzo Fernandez for example in those circumstances. Especially given how the final half-hour of the game played out. You do feel that Rayan Cherki cannot always be the fall guy at halftime of matches. His ability to produce a moment of magic needs to be on the pitch and not on the bench. That was how I saw it at the final whistle of Manchester City’s first Premier League defeat at Villa Park. Rayan Cherki has been taken off at halftime in four matches so far this season. There have been reasons for this. However, you hope that the current trend doesn’t become a consistent theme. Cherki needs to be on the pitch more often than not. Going forward, it will be interesting to see how Enzo Maresca handles Cherki’s minutes in the game. It may be a case that Cherki has to consistently prove why he should always be on the pitch. If that is what motivates Cherki to lift his game, that can only benefit Manchester City.