Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has opened up on why young French winger Rayan Cherki evokes memories of Lionel Messi and it turns out the comparison goes beyond the flash of fancy footwork.
Guardiola reveals why Cherki reminds him of Messi — and it’s not just the flair
After a commanding 3–0 home win against Sunderland AFC, which closed the gap to league leaders on the table, Cherki produced a jaw-dropping “rabona” cross that found teammate Phil Foden.
Foden headed in the goal, prompting an eruption of cheers from the crowd — and a warm embrace between Cherki and his manager.
In his post-match remarks, Guardiola labelled Cherki “an exceptional player,” praising not only his confidence and creativity but also what he called his “special” qualities in the final third.
What struck Guardiola most was not simply the audacity of the rabona — something rarely attempted even by top stars — but the underlying simplicity and effectiveness of Cherki’s play.
“I never saw Messi play a cross like this,” Guardiola admitted. He added that although Messi is widely regarded as the greatest, even he seldom attempted such a move.
For Guardiola, this moment encapsulates what separates good flair from meaningful quality. He said the greatest players — like Messi — master the basics before letting their talent shine.
“The simple things, he does perfectly,” Guardiola said. And that, he believes, is Cherki’s strongest trait right now.
But Guardiola also had a warning: raw skill without consistency can quickly become a liability.
He says if Cherki does not back up his moments of magic with diligent work, there could be trouble ahead. For now though, against Sunderland, Cherki showed signs that he could be a major figure for City
