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The most important game of Manchester City’s season leaked into the 16th minute when, during a period of dominance, Rayan Cherki pulled off a classic goal to give Pep Guardiola’s side the lead.
A spin, wiggle and weave around Declan Rice and Gabriel preceded a stunning finish beyond David Raya into the bottom left corner to put the Citizens in the driving seat at the Etihad Stadium.
It turned out to be his 10th goal of the season across all competitions, adding to his 13 assists – two of which came against Chelsea in another important win just one week ago.
Why the Premier League fell in love with Rayan Cherki
But it wasn’t the goal specifically that made the rest of the Premier League fall in love even more with Cherki, it was the fact that once again he provided evidence that his rise in the football world just continues to exceed people’s expectations.
The France international has doubled his market value this season and is unplayable at the worst of times. Not only is he a skilled manipulator, he is able to dribble and travel with possession to evade pressure in extremely congested areas, doing so seamlessly.
He has quick feet but it’s his creativity and unpredictability that is most telling about his game; he often receives the ball on his front foot to protect it on his safe side, while keeping defenders away at arm’s length to navigate his way out of pressure.
When City face Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday, it will be yet another test for Guardiola’s side that is a must-win if they want to achieve one of the biggest upsets in Premier League history and win a seventh season in nine.
Putting Cherki in the starting 11 is certainly a good place to begin given his genius bodes well with the role of a free-roamer in Guardiola’s system. The 4-2-3-1 system allows him to drift wide from central areas and break low-block defences – an inability to do so has hurt City in previous seasons.
From Lyon to the Etihad: Guardiola’s “Street Player” matures
There were early concerns for the attacking midfielder’s work rate at times when he first joined City for £34 million in the summer of 2025 from Ligue 1 side Lyon. However, Guardiola has instilled importunity and discipline into his off-the-ball work, which has been highlighted largely in this, and his most successful, part of the season.
“Rayan is one of the huge stars I have ever seen in my career,” Guardiola said in October. “Technically and individually he is top. The question is how he settles and what we are going to do, how he reads the game and every action the game needs.
“He started at the [Club] World Cup, but then there was some time off. [We have to go] step by step, but the talent he has: I have the feeling that most of the time when the ball comes to him, the situation gets better.
“Not all the time he has to play, like, make exceptional things, he has to play just football. But he has something. [Such as] the pass for Erling in the last moment [against Everton], many, many things that he can do.
“He is a guy that doesn’t feel the pressure when is going to get the ball. He’s like a street player. He is grumpy – ‘give me the ball, give me the ball’ – when he doesn’t get the ball, you know. He has been a short time here; it will take a bit of time because you have to play with your [team]mates.”
With the Premier League still very much to play for, Guardiola will know that his side shouldn’t make a meal of the task that awaits them, but it is crucial to deceive Burnley with a strong, and perhaps changed line-up from what City fans saw against Arsenal.
Navigating the Rodri Blow: City’s tactical reshuffle for Burnley
Rodri is certain to be out after the City boss confirmed on Tuesday that he suffered a leg injury, suspected to be a calf issue. And while he will miss the game at Turf Moor and potentially the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley at the weekend, Nico Gonzalez is certainly going to be hungry to impress after losing his place through Rodri’s return.
Ruben Dias is still out to the delight of Burnley supporters, but Wednesday night may reach a point of realisation for the home fans, who could witness another relegation from the Premier League after failing to adapt to the top-flight’s demands.
Not only is their squad depth a crucial issue, a high number of defensive errors has also struck their misfortune and so, if they fail to reach a point, they will face the drop – becoming the second team to be relegated after Wolves on Monday.
Rodri ruled out of Burnley clash as Pep Guardiola provides Ruben Dias and John Stones update
Relegation stakes and the weight of history
The statistics aren’t on the Clarets’ side either; Scott Parker’s group have won just one of their 19 Premier League games against City and while that came in 2015, they have lost 15 of those meetings.
If that doesn’t seem bad enough, City have scored five or more goals in five different Premier League games against Burnley and no side has done so more often against another in the competition’s history. The odds are stacked in favour of City, of course.
Reclaiming the Summit: The goal difference math for Arsenal and City
The Etihad club need to be on their top game regardless given the pressure of the title race and knowing that, if points are dropped here, it could be catastrophic with how much easier Arsenal’s games may seem on paper.
Guardiola’s side have won the most away points in England’s top division since the start of December with their only defeat coming against Manchester United at Old Trafford in that period.
On the flip side, Arsenal, despite sitting at the top of the table since October, and at one point being nine points clear, could drop to second if City win at Turf Moor. Moreover, City will lead the table on goal difference if they win by two or more goals and if they win by one, will lead solely on goals scored.
Will they pull it off? It’s certainly expected, but as they say, it’s the hope that kills you.
