Cherki's City debut will leave fans wanting more

At the home of the Philadelphia Eagles, there was an NFL-style edge to Rayan Cherki's first Manchester City appearance.

- JAMIE JOHNSON

In the one-by-one player introductions, in the style of American football, Pep Guardiola's new man entered centre stage for City.

He brings promise of a return to the sort of form that won the blue side of Manchester four consecutive Premier Leagues, after a season in which the club faltered and were miles off the titlewinning pace set by Arne Slot's impressive Liverpool.

At a half-empty Lincoln Financial Field, with a boisterous presence from Morocco's Wydad Casablanca fans (at one point stopping the game with a waft of red smoke flares), Cherki made a good first impression but only in bursts.

Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku netted the goals, but 21-year-old Cherki showed glimpses of why City poached him from Lyon. Admittedly, he did not set the game on fire, but with a few clever touches and eye-catching runs that were not found, he showed promise in a 60-minute debut.

Interesting movement