- Guardiola dismisses the notion of a ‘typical Guardiola player’, insisting all his players fit his style
- The City boss jokes that Cherki’s boxing videos on Instagram were ‘scary’ and ‘top’
- Guardiola says he won’t discuss Instagram content with Cherki, joking that he will play every game
Pep Guardiola has refuted the idea that Rayan Cherki doesn’t fit the mould of a typical Guardiola player and admitted that the Frenchman’s boxing has left him impressed.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of Monday’s Premier League trip to Everton, the 55-year-old was in characteristically entertaining form when asked about Rayan Cherki‘s fit within his system – a question that has followed the 22-year-old since his £34 million arrival from Lyon last summer.
Cherki has enjoyed an eye-catching debut season at the Etihad Stadium, standing on 23 goal contributions in all competitions across 46 outings and producing a series of moments – including his stunning opener in City’s 2-1 win over Arsenal in April – that have made him one of the most talked-about players in English football.
“Rayan Cherki is better than Lamine Yamal” – Villarreal forward’s ultimate compliment to Manchester City star
I don’t have typical players, admits Guardiola
Asked to define what a typical Guardiola player looks like, with Ilkay Gundogan and Lionel Messi offered as examples, Guardiola was having none of it.
“That is a good question! That is what I wanted to ask you, what is my typical player?” he said. “Yeah, give me another one. Yeah, I don’t have typical players. As much as they love to play.
“So if he’s not my typical player, it’s not bad for the first season what he’s doing. I don’t believe in that. I remember when I was in Barcelona, and Barcelona has 18 special (players) – no! There are good players, and not good players.
“If you are a good player and strong here, you can play in all the teams, in the big teams in the world, and normally the big teams are being guided with the top, top managers.
“So of course he can play, it’s my style, my type of… All the players I have here are my type of players, all of them.”
The answer is a significant one in the context of how Cherki has been discussed this season. Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero has admitted that Guardiola will probably not like some of the things Cherki does, a view Guardiola has addressed in his own way on more than one occasion.
Sergio Aguero: Pep Guardiola won’t like some things about Rayan Cherki
Pep: Cherki’s boxing is scary, top!
Asked whether anything about Cherki had surprised him this season, Guardiola’s answer took a completely different turn.
“Yeah, in Instagram right now, he’s making boxing,” Guardiola added. “That was surprising, I didn’t expect. Have you watched it? No? Go. Top! I will not discuss it with him, he will play every game. Honestly, it’s scary!”
The press room laughed and Guardiola’s mock-frightened reaction to Cherki’s boxing clips says everything about the warmth of the relationship between the pair.
The suggestion that he will simply let it go and continue playing the Frenchman regardless is entirely in keeping with how Guardiola has managed Cherki throughout the season, giving him the freedom to express himself while pushing him to do more of it on the pitch.
