Cherki, Manchester City’s £34 million French import, made his much-anticipated debut in the Club World Cup opener against Wydad Casablanca—and, well, it wasn’t exactly Zidane-esque. In fact, if City fans were expecting fireworks, they got a damp sparkler instead. The former Lyon prodigy, hyped as the heir to De Bruyne’s creative empire, looked more like a tourist still figuring out which Tube line to take to the Etihad.
Cherki’s City Start: Less Maestro, More Mayhem
Deployed as a number eight, Cherki was asked to juggle creativity with structure—Pep’s favorite mix. Positioned between Tijjani Reijnders (who did most of the heavy lifting) and a front trio resembling a Champions League TikTok reel—Savinho, Doku, and Marmoush—Cherki barely got a sniff. Pressed like a panic-stricken olive by Wydad’s midfield, he managed just 22 touches before making way for Erling Haaland. If Guardiola had a “You tried” sticker, Cherki earned it.
Pep on Cherki: A Gentle Scolding in Pepanese
Post-match, Guardiola offered his classic sermon of calm: “He has incredible skills near the box… today was just the first game.” Translation? Let’s not panic yet, but please get better soon. We cannot expect that if a person has played a single game, we would know anything about this person. We cannot expect that it is we who have been forced into Pep Matcha Rubiks cube of tactical insanity on a steamy night in Philadelphia.
What’s Next for Him? Redemption, Hopefully
Cherki will get another shot when City faces Al Ain next. It’s another chance to show he’s not just a hype machine with a Parisian accent. The potential’s there—the touch, the vision, the cheeky backheels. But potential doesn’t win trophies. Consistency does. For now, the jury’s out, the memes are in, and Sunday can’t come soon enough. Let’s be honest—Cherki may not have dazzled on debut, but Pep’s projects often start as puzzles. Give him time, a few Haaland hugs, and maybe a pass map without hieroglyphics.
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