Rayan Cherki shows what Man City are not - and also what they could be

Manchester City struggled for rhythm at Swansea after 10 changes to their team but Rayan Cherki's persistence paid off

Manchester City are no longer what they were.

The Pep Guardiola side that crushed all comers for seven years and won, alongside other more important trophies, four Carabao Cups in a row, is gone. The XI that started at Swansea was evidence of that, with Nathan Ake the only one to have won the League Cup at the Etihad.

Amid an injury crisis last season, City's mentality crumbled and too many of their serial winners lost that edge that has kept the manager going for so much longer than anyone dared to dream of. Ten new faces have arrived this year for around £350m, and the result is a work in progress.

City's performance in South Wales will not scare anyone. Four of the 10 signings made their first starts since lengthy injuries, and looked rusty.

Rayan Cherki was the pick of the quartet, yet he does typify the question marks around the team. His potential is enormous and he was at the heart of City's best-looking moves on the night against their Championship opposition, a walking example of why Guardiola will never follow the increasing number of teams who resemble Tony Pulis's Stoke.

But he is still learning, and will be for some time - as many of his teammates are.

Goncalo Franco had given Swansea a shock lead early in the first half with a brilliant first-time effort from outside the box that James Trafford could do nothing about. The former Burnley stopper then produced a vital save when Abdukodir Khusanov's slapdash pass across to Nathan Ake was intercepted.

For most of the first half, it was fairly easy to say that none of the 10 changes Guardiola had made from Villa Park - or Oscar Bobb, who had kept his place - had done anything to warrant a start on Sunday when Bournemouth come to the Etihad.

However, they deserve credit for hauling themselves back into the match. City have won as much as they have under Guardiola because they refused to give in wherever they went and whoever they played, and here there was evidence of the new crop showing those same signs.

Despite the introduction of old hats Josko Gvardiol, John Stones and Phil Foden, it was the new boys who made the difference with Nico Gonzalez freeing up Cherki and his lovely through-ball sparking an excellent touch and finish from Omar Marmoush.

It wasn't a vintage night, but this new-look side should only get better. How much better, and whether they are good enough to win trophies this season, remains to be seen.

But even if rivals shouldn't fear City on their reputation, the crop of 2025 will be dangerous opponents. Especially if Cherki plays like this.

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