Manchester City supporters have made their feelings clear after Enzo Maresca addressed Rayan Cherki’s role at the club following the decision to leave the attacking midfielder on the bench against Bournemouth.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of Friday’s clash with Crystal Palace in London, Maresca said: “Rayan made an impact the other day [against Bournemouth].
“For sure, he’s one of the players in terms of quality; he’s a different player compared to the rest because he can give us, in some moments when we struggle but especially in the last third; it’s what we need.
“It also depends on the game-plan. how the opponents play. Again, no doubt that he’s going to help now and in the future. Even Rayan is very young, he’s 22 or 23, so he’s going to help us and I’m very happy with the way he’s working.”
A City Xtra post on X highlighting Maresca’s comments prompted an overwhelmingly frustrated response from supporters. Many fans were not convinced by the manager’s explanation that Cherki’s involvement depends on the game plan.
Instead, the dominant message from the Manchester City fanbase was simple: they want Rayan Cherki to start.
Several supporters went as far as demanding that the Frenchman be included in the starting XI for every game, while others questioned why one of the club’s most exciting attacking players was not being used from the beginning.
Man City fans want Rayan Cherki starting
The strongest theme running through the reactions was the belief that Cherki should be starting regularly for Manchester City.
One supporter delivered the message bluntly: “LET HIM START.”
Another wrote: “Start him in every game.”
That sentiment was echoed repeatedly in the comments, showing just how strongly some supporters feel about Cherki’s place in Maresca’s team.
Cherki arrived at Manchester City with a reputation for creativity, technical ability and the capacity to unlock defences. Those qualities have quickly made him a popular figure among sections of the fanbase.
For those supporters, seeing him start on the bench naturally creates frustration.
The Bournemouth decision appears to have intensified that feeling.
Rather than viewing the decision as a normal tactical choice, some fans interpreted it as evidence that Maresca may not yet fully trust Cherki.
That is why his explanation about selecting the player depending on the game plan has caused such a reaction.
“He is gonna bench him again”
One of the clearest concerns among supporters is that the Bournemouth decision could become a pattern.
A fan asked: “He is gonna bench him again isn’t he.”
Another simply responded: “He’s going to bench him again.”
Those reactions highlight the uncertainty surrounding Cherki’s role under Maresca.
Supporters are not necessarily demanding that the midfielder play every minute. However, many clearly want him to be given a more prominent starting role.
The concern is that Cherki could become a player used primarily from the bench.
One supporter summed up that fear in French: “En résumé Rayan est un super sub.”
Translated, the comment suggests that Cherki is effectively being turned into a “super sub”.
That is not the role many City fans appear to have in mind for him.
Maresca’s “game plan” explanation divides supporters
Maresca’s comments were intended to explain the tactical thinking behind Cherki’s selection.
However, some supporters felt the answer did not provide enough clarity.
One fan wrote: “He didnt answer the question.”
Another was even more critical, describing Maresca’s explanation as that of a manager talking about Cherki depending on the game plan.
The frustration appears to come from a perceived mismatch between what supporters see in Cherki and how they believe he is being used.
For many fans, the Frenchman possesses enough individual quality to deserve a starting opportunity regardless of the opponent.
That does not mean tactical considerations are irrelevant.
A manager has to consider the opposition, formation, defensive requirements and physical demands of every fixture. Maresca is also entitled to rotate his squad during a long season.
But supporters clearly want Cherki’s quality to be given greater priority.
Some fans would rather see Foden benched
Interestingly, the debate has also moved into comparisons with Phil Foden.
One supporter argued that Maresca should “bench Foden” instead.
Another fan offered a more measured explanation, suggesting that Foden may be starting because Manchester City currently have only one captain and that the Englishman could become an important leadership figure if he returns to form.
That reaction shows that not every supporter is simply calling for Foden to be dropped.
Instead, there is a wider debate about how Maresca can accommodate several talented attacking players.
Cherki, Foden and other attacking options all have different qualities. The challenge for Maresca is finding a system that gets the best from them without compromising the team’s overall balance.
Still, the reactions suggest that many fans currently see Cherki as deserving of more minutes.
“Don’t ever bench him”
Perhaps the strongest indication of the mood came from another supporter who wrote: “Don’t ever bench him abegg.”
The comment attracted significant engagement, reflecting the emotional response surrounding the player.
Another fan wrote: “Then you go ahead and bench him.”
The message was sarcastic, but it captured the frustration perfectly.
Supporters have heard Maresca explain the tactical reasoning. They now want to see that reasoning reflected in results while also seeing Cherki receive meaningful opportunities.
For many City fans, the Bournemouth decision was not simply about one match.
It became a question about what role Cherki will have throughout the season.
Some supporters are already losing patience
The reaction was not universally positive towards Maresca.
Some comments crossed from tactical criticism into direct criticism of the manager.
One supporter described him in extremely negative terms, while another said: “Get this guy out of my club.”
Such comments should be viewed as part of the emotional nature of social media rather than a definitive representation of the entire Manchester City fanbase.
Nevertheless, they demonstrate how quickly frustration can grow when supporters believe a talented player is not being used as they expect.
Maresca inherited a squad filled with high-level attacking talent. His biggest challenge may not simply be choosing the best players, but managing expectations around those players.
Cherki is already generating considerable excitement among City supporters.
Why Cherki has created so much excitement
The enthusiasm surrounding Cherki is understandable.
The French attacker offers qualities that can change a game. His creativity, close control and ability to operate between the lines make him an attractive option against teams that defend deeply.
Those qualities can be particularly valuable for Manchester City.
When opponents sit back and restrict space around the penalty area, City need players capable of producing something unexpected.
Cherki is viewed by many supporters as exactly that type of player.
This explains why fans reacted so strongly to his absence from the starting lineup against Bournemouth.
They want to see him given the freedom to influence matches from the opening whistle.
“Perfect” – confidence remains high among supporters
Despite the frustration, the reactions also contained plenty of confidence in Cherki.
One fan simply described the situation as “Perfect.”
Another supporter demanded that he start every game, while several others repeated variations of “let him start”.
That level of enthusiasm suggests that the criticism is ultimately rooted in excitement.
Fans believe Cherki can become an important player for Manchester City.
They do not want to see his development slowed by spending too much time on the bench.
At the same time, Maresca will know that managing a squad is about more than satisfying individual demands.
There will be matches where Cherki starts and others where a different profile is required.
The key will be finding the right balance.
What happens next for Rayan Cherki?
The coming weeks should provide a clearer picture of Cherki’s status under Maresca.
If he starts regularly, the current frustration among supporters will probably disappear quickly.
If he continues to spend important matches on the bench, however, questions about his role are likely to become louder.
The pressure will therefore be on Maresca to demonstrate why he believes particular tactical choices are best for the team.
For Cherki, the response should be straightforward: continue working, take opportunities when they arrive and make selection difficult for the manager.
That is ultimately the best way to settle the debate.
For now, though, Manchester City supporters have delivered a very clear message.
They do not want Rayan Cherki to become merely a substitute.
They want to see him start.
And if the reactions to City Xtra’s post are anything to go by, many fans will be watching Maresca’s next team selection very closely.
