- Aguero insists Cherki has made Man City “a much better team” despite still lacking consistency
- The Man City legend believes Guardiola has accepted Cherki’s free-spirited style
- Aguero reveals his son is “driving me crazy” asking for Cherki’s shirt
Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero has insisted that Rayan Cherki’s free-spirited style will test Pep Guardiola’s patience on a regular basis.
Cherki has been one of the most captivating players in the Premier League this season since joining from Lyon last summer, recording 23 goal contributions in 46 appearances across all competitions and producing a series of performances that have earned him widespread acclaim.
Since his arrival in England, there has rung a chorus of admiration for the France international, a throwback to the old-school playmaker, as a free spirit who appears as if he’s playing in the street and isn’t scared to express himself despite playing under Pep Guardiola, one of the strictest managers in world football.
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Aguero: I love Cherki, my son is desperate for his shirt!
Speaking to Stake, Aguero was characteristically candid in his assessment of Cherki – balancing genuine affection with a measured acknowledgement of where the young Frenchman must improve.
“Rayan Cherki needs to be careful with the way he plays but he makes Man City a better team,” the former Argentina international said. “Obviously he’s still missing some consistency, but he’s a different player. He has impressive qualities. Hopefully he takes the next step.
“He plays in a very free way, without caring about anything, and that makes him different on the pitch. Knowing Pep, some of the things he does Pep probably doesn’t like, but Pep has understood that this is his natural way of playing. He doesn’t do it to show off, he does it to beat the opponent.”
Aguero’s point about Guardiola’s acceptance of Cherki’s style is a perceptive one. Guardiola himself has acknowledged that Cherki can do more when City are winning comfortably but has stopped well short of attempting to fundamentally alter the instincts that make the Frenchman so dangerous.
“As a player, I would tell him (Cherki) to be careful because there are always defenders who don’t care and will give you a strong kick,” Aguero added in conversation with Stake.
“But in the meantime he enjoys it and above all, it ends up creating goals or goal-scoring chances. I love him; my son is driving me crazy asking for his shirt! The truth is he has made City a much better team.”
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What has Cherki’s season looked like at City?
Aguero’s verdict on Cherki’s consistency echoes comments made by Guardiola earlier this month, when the City manager praised his stunning goal against Arsenal while simultaneously demanding more sustained involvement across 95 minutes, a challenge the 22-year-old is still working to meet on a consistent basis.
What is beyond dispute, however, is the impact Cherki has had on City’s season at the most critical juncture. His goal against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium earlier this month was one of the moments of the Premier League campaign.
The Frenchman’s brace of assists in City’s 3-0 win at Chelsea were central to reigniting City’s title charge at a point when it had threatened to fizzle out entirely.
For Aguero, whose own son is apparently already a devoted admirer, the feeling is mutual. And with the Premier League title race, an FA Cup final and a domestic treble still on the line, Cherki will have plenty more opportunities between now and the end of the season to justify every word of the City legend’s praise.
