Manchester: Manchester City head coach, Pep Guardiola, has clarified his decision to bench French footballer Rayan Cherki in favor of other players, citing a need for team stability and balance.
According to Ghana Web, Guardiola explained that when Cherki is played alongside Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku, the team struggles to maintain balance, which inadvertently benefits their opponents. The decision to bench Cherki, he emphasized, is not a reflection of personal dislike but a strategic move to explore different tactical options.
The Spanish manager elaborated, "We learned at the beginning, playing with Erling [Haaland], Jeremy [Doku], and Cherki, that we were incredibly unbalanced. We didn't have the stability that teams in the Premier League must have. That's why I tried to adjust." Guardiola expressed his appreciation for Cherki's impact off the bench, noting that his contribution in such situations is "always unbelievable."
Guardiola also highlighted the team's improved balance when Antoine Semenyo and Nico O'Reilly play on the wings, with Semenyo's pace enhancing the overall team performance. "Sometimes he doesn't have the speed, but the team was stable when Antoine Semenyo and Nico O'Reilly played in the winger positions and then came inside, arriving in the box, they were really, really good. I'm still finding the best way to achieve consistent stability as a team," he added.
Since joining Manchester City from Bournemouth, Semenyo has become a regular feature in City's lineups, significantly contributing to the team's performance with his goals, which has led to Cherki spending more time on the bench.