Rayan Cherki impresses Zidane but exposes defensive weakness

Rayan Cherki strengthened his case for a central role in Zinedine Zidane’s France team while also revealing the weakness that could prevent him from settling there. In Zidane’s first match as coach, the Manchester City player operated as a deeper midfielder rather than in his usual advanced position.

Cherki was heavily involved in possession, collecting 88 passes or touches, the highest figure among France’s midfielders and forwards. His control helped France cope with pressure, while his movement created openings. He also delivered a cut-back that, after a deflection, might have produced an assist. The change of position did not remove the creativity that defines his game.

The concern came when France lost the ball. Cherki occasionally failed to follow his defensive instructions, was slow to make recovery runs and accepted unnecessary risks in areas close to his own defence. He lost possession 11 times, a limited figure in isolation, but Zidane expects greater discipline from a midfielder operating in that part of the pitch.

The role is not being treated as a one-off experiment. Zidane had worked on it with Cherki before the trip to Turkey and had already given him detailed guidance in training. Cherki was substituted partly to keep him fresh for Belgium, and he could remain an option in the 4-3-3, either as a relay midfielder or further forward. His next step is to stay engaged when the ball is elsewhere.