Cherki turns Bournemouth around with two assists in added time

Rayan Cherki single-handedly turned the match around on Sunday: brought on as Manchester City trailed 1-0 to Bournemouth, the French midfielder delivered two assists in the closing stages to secure a 2-1 victory for the Citizens.

Cherki’s first decisive intervention came from a corner: a perfectly placed ball for Marc Guéhi, who equalized in the 84th minute. The second perhaps showcased his qualities even more: a ground pass into a tiny space inside the box, finding Josko Gvardiol and allowing him to score the winning goal in added time. A gesture of pure finesse in an area where the slightest imprecision would have killed the move.

This performance confirms a trend taking shape. Since the start of last season, Cherki is the player with the most assists in open play in the Premier League, now with 12 assists in this campaign. He has also become the first Manchester City substitute to deliver two assists in the same Premier League match since Ilkay Gündogan in December 2021 against Leeds.

Cherki’s introduction also saved Enzo Maresca’s Premier League debut on the Manchester City bench, which was shaping up unfavorably before his arrival.

The performance comes at a particularly good time for the Frenchman, whose last outing with the Blues at the World Cup left a mixed feeling, far from the expectations placed on him. At Manchester City, the former Lyon player seems to have found an environment where his instinctive football fully expresses itself. His first season had already shown his importance in creation, with 11 assists in the Premier League in 2025-26.

Competition remains fierce at City and Cherki will need to confirm to establish himself permanently in the starting XI. His introduction against Bournemouth is nonetheless a strong signal, including to the new France national team manager.