Perhaps deploying their maverick in a free role is best for Manchester City | OneFootball

One feature of the Club World Cup from a Manchester City point of view was seeing Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki play their first games for the club. Although Pep Guardiola’s side went out of the tournament at the round of 16 stage with a 4-3 defeat to Al Hilal, all three players showed glimpses of their quality in the United States.

But in the case of Rayan Cherki, as of right now, it isn’t immediately clear where he will play for City. But watching his performance against Al Hilal, perhaps playing in a free role is the ideal role for Cherki.

Manchester City may get the best out of Rayan Cherki by letting him roam.

Against Al Hilal, Rayan Cherki came on at the beginning of extra time. The French international came on against a tiring Al Hilal defence. But he quickly made an impact on the match. He set up Phil Foden’s goal to make it 3-all with a sublime assist. The ball he provided for Foden perfectly encapsulated what Cherki adds to City’s play. He can pick out a defence-splitting ball with ease, and he figures to be an important weapon for Manchester City. But his assist wasn’t the only piece of his play to catch the eye in Orlando.

The role Rayan Cherki played stood out. He played a free role and drifted where he saw fit. He dropped deep to pick up possession, and Cherki also popped up in dangerous areas in the final third. It was only a cameo appearance, but it perhaps provided a glimpse of where Cherki will be best utilised by Pep Guardiola.

It will be interesting to see how Rayan Cherki is deployed by Pep Guardiola.

Outside of his tremendous technical and dribbling ability, Rayan Cherki is a versatile player. He can play as a number 10 or on either wing. The French international can play any of those roles in devastating fashion. But the idea of him playing in a similar role to that of Kevin De Bruyne is potentially the one that will suit him the most. Cherki could pick his spots and get into the most dangerous attacking areas for his team. His eye for a pass, especially from deep in midfield, makes a free role for Cherki a mouth-watering prospect. The idea of him and Phil Foden alternating roles on the pitch may be the dream scenario. But in the case of Rayan Cherki alone, playing a free role may bring out the best in him as a City player.

Rayan Cherki showed glimpses of what he will add to the Manchester City squad in the United States. But looking ahead, perhaps if he is unleashed to drift all over the pitch that will see him quickly become a dangerous weapon for Pep Guardiola’s side.