Rayan Cherki discusses his adaptation to a new position and his relationship with Zinédine Zidane after France-Belgium

Rayan Cherki is what we call a good customer. Like his thunderous entry on Monday, against Belgium (4-1), at the Stade de France, the Manchester City player is no more shy in front of the microphones than on the pitch. It’s fresh, it’s clear, it’s Cherki. “I score the 2-1 goal, that frees everyone, me first,” he commented on TF1. We talk about my dribbling and my passing, but today, I am in a register that forces me to play complete and clean matches. True football connoisseurs understand this. Those who think differently don’t understand things,” he said again, he who played in the middle trio during this training course.

All new, all beautiful? “During this rally, I learned to play a new position. It's a different style. It’s a position that I’m learning and loving. Over time with the coach, it will become easier. I will take more responsibility,” he whispered, he who played under Michael Olise as playmaker during the World Cup, under Didier Deschamps.

For Rayan Cherki, it’s super complicated not to take risks.

Rayan Cherki

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Zinédine Zidane? “It’s great, we all have an extraordinary relationship with him,” he said. He took all the players the same way, he talks with everyone. He instills in us important fundamentals, of having the ball. I spoke with David Bettoni (his assistant), I told him that I was frustrated after my first two matches because I didn't take enough risks. For Rayan Cherki, it’s super complicated not to take risks. It worked a lot for me. I told him that I would take more risks this evening, because it was the last match, that I had to show what I have under my feet.” We saw. A goal and an assist for Cherki, replacing, like Michael Olise.

Also read The notes of the Blues against Belgium: magical Olise, the replacements as saviors, Dembélé stopped, Diouf drowns

The relationship between the two players has recently been commented on here and there. However, on the pitch, we only saw two boys who turned the match around. A priori, everything goes well between them. “Contrary to what some people may say…” quipped Cherki, who will “start to react more because everything that is said in the press concerning all the players, you should not listen to. We really have extraordinary group cohesion. Of course, you don't see that, because it's private, between us. But I have rarely known a group that lives so well. From the first to the last player, from the first to the last member of the staff, frankly, it’s awesome. You can feel it on the ground.”

Shared pleasure

And added: “When we returned, Michael and I, we were keen to take our responsibilities. When you have a day like that, you can only have fun.” Pleasure shared by everyone at the Stade de France. “We are all players who like to have the ball, to run with the ball. The more players we have who know how to play in small perimeters, overthrow, read situations, the simpler it will be. Happiness on and off the field.