An enigmatic star provided the answer that Manchester City needed against Bournemouth

Manchester City left it late to beat Bournemouth 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium to begin their 2026-27 Premier League campaign in the right fashion. Marcus Tavernier gave Bournemouth the lead in the 26th minute. Enzo Maresca’s side squandered several gilt-edged chances before they finally found their equalizer through Marc Guehi in the 84th minute. Josko Gvardiol scored the winner in the 91st minute. Rayan Cherki set up both of City’s late goals. When Manchester City needed more creativity and someone to unlock Bournemouth’s defence, it was Cherki who provided his team with the inspiration that they needed.

Manchester City needed someone to provide the spark to unlock Bournemouth’s defence and it was Rayan Cherki that provided it.

Rayan Cherki and Mateo Kovacic replaced Nico O’Reilly and Elliot Anderson in the 63rd minute of yesterday’s match. Manchester City needed a creative spark to find an equalizer despite the fact that they had squandered a host of great chances up until that point in the match.

After coming off the bench, Rayan Cherki immediately provided Enzo Maresca’s side with the creative spark that they needed to go up a gear and beat Bournemouth. He created four chances and gave his team the creative spark that they desperately needed.

It was Cherki who set up both of Manchester City’s late goals. Cherki’s inch-perfect delivery from the corner that Marc Guehi headed home to make it 1-1 was the first. Rayan Cherki delivered an exquisite corner from the right with his left foot that Marc Guehi headed home to equalize for City. In the 91st minute, it was Cherki’s close control, neat footwork and supreme vision that set up Josko Gvardiol’s late winner.

Enzo Maresca turned to Rayan Cherki to give his team the creative lift they needed. The French international did exactly that. Alongside Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic, Enzo Maresca’s substitutions were bang on yesterday and helped his team claim the three points they so desperately wanted.

Enzo Maresca was pleased with the game-breaking impact that Rayan Cherki had and he also explained why Cherki started on the bench.

Speaking after his first official as Manchester City manager, Enzo Maresca revealed why Rayan Cherki started on the bench. Maresca explained that with Erling Haaland, Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guehi and Elliot Anderson in the starting lineup, he didn’t want to add a fifth player to the mix that had a short preparation for the match. However, Maresca did praise Cherki’s impact. He explained: “The impact was unbelievable, he is that kind of player. I like Rayan, I told him also after the game, but sometimes when you plan a game and you already have (picked) four out of 11 players who arrived late (from holidays), if you go with one more maybe the difference is too big.”

“Rayan is quite a nice and clear boy. If he is not happy he wants to show it and I know that he was not happy today, but at the end I had to take a decision.”

Rayan Cherki did what he does best after coming off the bench against Bournemouth. He provided the creativity his team lacked to help Manchester City pick up an important win over Marco Rose’s side. In the process, Cherki showed why he should be an automatic starter for Enzo Maresca’s side from this point onwards.