One new signing for Manchester City embodied their problems in possession against Tottenham | OneFootball

As Manchester City went down to a 2-nil defeat to Tottenham at the Etihad on Saturday, it became clear the new-look City squad needs time to gel as a unit. Pep Guardiola’s squad isn’t yet the finished article. That isn’t a surprise given the amount of new players in the Manchester City squad. Factor in new coaches to the equation, and it isn’t a surprise that Pep Guardiola’s squad isn’t the finished article.

Speaking after his team’s defeat to Tottenham, Pep Guardiola said that his team got into good positions but played without the control his team needs to prosper. They were too rushed when in possession. Speaking on that particular issue which stood out during his team’s defeat to Tottenham at the Etihad, Pep Guardiola said: “When we arrive in positions more comfortably, we lose the simple things. We need the continuity with the passes, and we cannot attack in three or four passes. We missed it a little bit, that’s all.”

Rayan Cherki was guilty of trying to do too much against Tottenham.

Perhaps no player’s performance embodied Pep Guardiola’s quote more than Rayan Cherki’s display against Tottenham. At times, Cherki was guilty of trying to do too much when in possession. The French international wasn’t poor by any stretch, but he couldn’t affect Saturday’s match as he would’ve liked. Cherki played like he believed that every pass or cross he made had to be a game-defining action. But as the French international grows into his Manchester City career, he’ll learn when to keep the ball or when to try and break open a game. That is part of the learning curve for Cherki, as well as the new-look Manchester City squad.

Rayan Cherki, like his new teammates, will learn the Manchester City way in time.

Pep Guardiola told the media after Saturday’s match why he gave Rayan Cherki his first start against Tottenham. He explained that he thought Cherki’s ability to break the lines could have broken open Manchester City’s first home game of the 25/26 season. The decision to start Cherki didn’t go as planned. But the Manchester City manager added that Cherki will learn what is required to play in his team. He explained: “That’s why I gave him [a start] at home, he made an incredible 20 minutes at Wolves, being involved in small spaces, made a fantastic goal, the creativity to find the wingers, to find Erling [Haaland], to find Tijjani [Reijnders], to find Rico [Lewis], all of them have good, good movements from behind. And that was the reason why. It’s the first game, he will learn and keep going.”

Rayan Cherki will take time to adjust to Pep Guardiola’s demands. Like his new teammates, he will learn when to pick his moments and when to step back and help his team maintain possession. The performance from Cherki, and from Manchester City, isn’t a significant cause for concern. It is a reminder that the Manchester City rebuild will take time to come together. That fact can get lost in the reaction to each game at times. Each season is a marathon and not a sprint as is the time it will take new signings like Cherki to grow into life at Manchester City.