Rayan Cherki starred by registering two assists in the Man City vs Sunderland 3-0 win at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, December 6. The Cityzens won the match 3-0 to go within two points of table-toppers, Arsenal.
Cherki was signed this summer as a potential replacement for the great Kevin De Bruyne. His performance against Sunderland was a coming-of-age moment for the 22-year-old Frenchman. Pep Guardiola’s decision to sign him is thus gradually getting justified.
Rayan Cherki – Standout Player in Man City vs Sunderland 3-0 Win
The hosts 3-0 win in the Man City vs Sunderland game was largely fashioned by Rayan Cherki.
The Frenchman started in midfield in place of Tijjani Reijnders and vindicated the decision with his performance. Of the two Rayan Cherki assists was an outrageous Rabona assist to Phil Foden for his team’s third goal of the day.
However, more than that, it was his ball control that caught the eyes. Cherki’s tendency to attack from the right and deliver the crosses from near the by-line was a standout feature in the Manchester City win over Sunderland.
Cherki now has three goals and six assists in 14 matches for Pep Guardiola’s team this season. It is quite a good return for a player, who has made his debut in the Premier League this season. It is almost an impossible task to properly replace De Bruyne, but Cherki is showing glimpses of his talent quite frequently now.
He is a good passer and crosser of the ball and looks quite comfortable on it. With forceful and fast midfielders like Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez alongside him and opportunistic goal-scorers like Erling Haaland and Phil Foden in front, Cherki has the ideal set-up to excel for his new club. If Cherki aspires to be the new De Bruyne, Reijnders is probably the new Ilkay Gundogan.
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More Good News for City
Foden has already stepped up his form and now has nine goals for the team this season. Foden’s form has started to match Haaland’s, which is very good news for the Cityzens. Now, Cherki has started to shine, which is another good sign for Man City.
Guardiola has been rotating his resources quite well so far. Cherki has been utilised quite judiciously by the Spaniard so far. The Frenchman has gotten used to the pace of Premier League football quite well.
Unlike Florian Wirtz, another playmaker who has taken too long to get used to the pace of the league for Liverpool, Cherki has done it quite fast. For Manchester City to continue to challenge Arsenal for the Premier League title this season, Cherki’s form is quite crucial.
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Manchester City To Play Real Madrid and Crystal Palace Next
The Cityzens have a visit to Crystal Palace lined up this weekend in the Premier League on Sunday, December 14. Palace are a very good team who may give the Cityzens some trouble.
However, before that, they will play the eternal heavyweights Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League. Manchester City will also play Brentford in the EFL Cup this month.
For such a demanding schedule, Cherki’s form is going to be crucial for Manchester City. The Manchester City win over Sunderland has thrown the Frenchman firmly into the limelight.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Pro Sports Images
Recording Date: 06.12.2025
