A sixteen minute cameo against Al Ain from Rayan Cherki was full of promise for Manchester City | OneFootball

Outside of an ankle injury sustained by Claudio Echeverri, there were a host of positives for Manchester City to take from their 6-nil win over Al Ain in their FIFA Club World Cup Group G fixture on Monday morning. Ilkay Gundogan turned back the clock with a brace in a quality performance from the German midfielder. Rayan Ait-Nouri showed plenty at left-back in his debut for Manchester City. Another positive was the 16-minute cameo performance from Rayan Cherki. The French international scored his first goal for City and put in a dazzling display against Al Ain.

Rayan Cherki showed exactly what he will add to Manchester City’s play once he settles in.

After replacing Bernardo Silva in the 74th minute against Al Ain, Rayan Cherki quickly got to work. The French international quickly inserted himself into the play against a tiring Al Ain defence. Given Manchester City’s dominance of possession during the latter stages of their win at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the scene was set for Cherki to make an impact. He did just that against Al Ain.

Cherki linked up Manchester City’s possession play well and his tenacity did help set up Oscar Bobb’s goal in the game’s closing stages. It was Cherki’s determination to win back possession in the corner and his pass to Rodri that set up Bobb for his goal. That was great to see from Cherki.

Rayan Cherki would score his first goal for Manchester City in the 89th minute. His dummy allowed Erling Haaland to tee him up for a shot from the edge of the box and the French international dispatched it with ease on his right foot. It was a quality goal and that one particular passage of play illustrated that Haaland and Cherki have the potential to develop into a formidable combination once they play together more often.

There will be bigger tests than Al Ain for the French international as a Manchester City player.

It has to be said, that Al Ain weren’t the toughest opponent for Cherki to make an impact against. That’s no disrespect to the Emirati side but the difference in quality between City and Al Ain stood out at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Monday morning’s match was the ideal setting for Cherki to make an impact. He showed brief flashes of energy and quality in his debut against Wydad AC. Cherki took it to another level against Al Ain.

But there will be bigger tests and challenges to come for Cherki as a Manchester City player. Manchester City’s next Club World Cup fixture against Juventus looms as one. But the French international has eased his way into the fold in Pep Guardiola’s squad has been impressive. Now it will be interesting to see how he fares against a higher-quality opponent. But on talent alone, there is no doubt that Manchester City’s French international could make an impact against Juventus. Based on what we’ve seen so far there’s every chance of that happening.

The sixteen-minute cameo from Rayan Cherki against Al Ain showed exactly why City were so keen to sign him from Lyon. Cherki’s two FIFA Club World Cup appearances are the perfect building blocks for his City career. Now, as the challenges rise, it will be interesting to see how the French international fares. If he can rise to the challenges that await him and his team at the Club World Cup, it can lay the foundation for his debut season as a City player.