A Manchester City marvel is right at home playing under Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

It is often said that Pep Guardiola coaches the creativity out of players. Jack Grealish is often used as a prime example of this statement. That particular assessment ignores the success that Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden, just to name a few creative players, have had playing under Guardiola at Manchester City. The latest creative marvel to arrive at the Etihad last summer was Rayan Cherki. Cherki was signed by City from Lyon and has taken to life playing under Pep Guardiola exceptionally well.

In a new interview with mancity.com, Rayan Cherki has explained that the way Pep Guardiola’s teams play football is a key reason why he signed at City. Listening to Cherki speak, if Guardiola coached the creativity out of players, Cherki wouldn’t be at Manchester City and thriving as a player.

Rayan Cherki believes that playing under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City is the perfect setting for him.

Rayan Cherki has explained on Manchester City’s official website that he admires the intensity and passion that Pep Guardiola brings every single day. The French international also added that Pep Guardiola’s football philosophy perfectly aligns with how Cherki see the game. He explained: “It’s really impressive to see the high energy and the emotional intensity he brings to his work on a daily basis.”

“Pep has always been my vision of football. Ever since I entered the professional world. Pep has always been the vision of football that I had in my head, that I wanted to play.”

“So obviously, when I came here, everything became clearer for me, everything became simpler for me, and I think it’s the perfect combination.”

Across this season, you can see Rayan Cherki growing as a Manchester City player. Cherki’s talent has never been in question. The bigger question was whether he would adapt to Pep Guardiola’s demands out of possession. The answer to that question has been a resounding yes. Cherki’s work out of possession has grown the more he has played. This stood out during Manchester City’s recent nil-all draw with Sunderland. With Cherki doing the team things, his overall game in possession is infinitely more dangerous. You can see that Pep Guardiola’s principles are shared by Cherki. Hence why he has made such an impact so quickly at Manchester City.

Is Rayan Cherki ending the argument that Pep Guardiola coaches the creativity out of players?

I’ve always found the argument that Pep Guardiola coaches the creativity out of players to be wide of the mark. There are too many examples of attacking players across Guardiola’s time as manager of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City thriving. There are too many to name but it’s always seemed an argument that misses the mark. Yes, Pep Guardiola expects his attacking players to work out of possession. That is a given. But they are given license to do what they do best in the final third. It’s part of the reason why City, Barcelona and Bayern have thrived under Guardiola. They defend as a team and the creative players are given license to do what they do best. That is a simple breakdown. But there is enough proof out there to end the argument that Guardiola coaches the creativity out of players.

Perhaps Rayan Cherki will be the player to put the argument to bed once and for all. Cherki is already a key player already for Manchester City. The sky is also the limit for what Cherki can become playing under Pep Guardiola. If the French international fulfils his potential at City, and under Guardiola you do sense that the argument that Pep coaches the creativity and flair out of players will end for good.

Final thoughts.

Rayan Cherki is thriving so far as a player at Manchester City. He has shared his belief that he shares a similar vision with how football should be played to that of Pep Guardiola. You can see it all coming to life on the pitch every time Cherki plays for Manchester City. It is a joy to behold. The longer Cherki plays under Guardiola the better player he should become. Perhaps if that occurs the argument that Guardiola coaches the creativity out of players will vanish as well.