Two players have given the Manchester City midfield a new look | OneFootball

Manchester City beat Palermo 3-nil last night to conclude their pre-season preparations for the 25/26 season. Across the FIFA Club World Cup and last night’s match, there have been positive signs displayed by two of Manchester City’s new signings. Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders have shown they will add a different dynamic to City’s midfield. That stood out last night and does bode well for the 25/26 season.

Rayan Cherki lined up as a number ten last night, and he will be a key player for Manchester City.

Last night saw Rayan Cherki start for Manchester City against Palermo. The French international started primarily as a number ten but had a free role to drift all over the pitch. This particular role suits the strengths of Cherki’s game. Cherki is a spectacular player with the potential to split open an opponent’s defence with a moment of magic. Whether that’s with a defence-splitting pass or with his dribbling ability, he can also be a goal threat, as we saw last night.

Against Palermo, Cherki was arguably Manchester City’s best player in the first half. He drifted all over the pitch and helped link up City’s possession play. He almost set up Omar Marmoush with a sublime ball midway through the first half. Cherki nearly scored City’s second goal of the match, only to be denied by some desperate Palermo goal line defending. But more importantly, Cherki combined well with his teammates. His link-up play with Oscar Bobb and Rico Lewis was a highlight. Looking ahead, Rayan Cherki adds a different element to Manchester City’s midfield with his ability in possession and when he can drift all over the pitch.

The second half was the Tijjani Reijnders show as he dominated proceedings.

At halftime of last night’s match, Pep Guardiola made ten substitutions. One player who came on was Tijjani Reijnders. The Dutch international instantly impacted Manchester City’s play with his forward runs from midfield. He got his reward in the 59th minute as he made it 2-nil on the night after being set up by Savinho. Reijnders would make it 3-nil in the 82nd minute with a calm finish after a driving run. Manchester City need more goals from midfield, and Tijjani Reijnders will add that in spades. There will be tougher tests than Palermo ahead for Reijnders, but he showed last night and during the FIFA Club World Cup what he will add to the Manchester City midfield.

Speaking after last night’s match, Pep Guardiola was full of praise for the performance of Tijjani Reijnders. The Manchester City manager believes the Dutch international has special qualities that improve his team. Guardiola explained: “Yeah, we knew that he is a special player arriving into the box. He loves to do that. People in Italy know him perfectly [after his time at AC Milan].”

“He scored two goals and he made a fantastic performance like the rest of his teammates.”

“He can play as a holding midfielder but he loves to arrive to the box to help our strikers like Erling [Haaland] and Omar [Marmoush] and anyone who plays there. We are really pleased.”

Summary.

The sample size is small, but already it seems like Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders have changed the dynamic of the Manchester City midfield. Cherki adds the creativity that City lacked last season. Reijnders adds the ability to drift into the box from midfield, his goal scoring prowess and all around quality will change the City midfield for the better.

The challenges come thick and fast starting next weekend at Molineux for Pep Guardiola’s side. But based on what Cherki and Reijnders have shown since arriving the Etihad both players will likely start Manchester City’s opening Premier League fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers. They are ready to make an impact at the Etihad and that was on display last night against Palermo.