Cherki’s crisis deepens as Lyon go bottom of Ligue 1
Robin Bairner
- 23 Oct 2023 13:25 BST
- 4 min read
Rayan Cherki and Lyon are in trouble. While the club lies bottom of Ligue 1 and is still waiting for its first win of the season, the wonderkid finds himself constantly under pressure from new head coach Fabio Grosso.
The World Cup winner has overseen four matches since being appointed Lyon head coach, winning just a single point in those games.
Cherki, who was so integral to OL under previous head coach Laurent Blanc and won summer interest from PSG and Chelsea, has failed to play more than an hour in any of these fixtures. He has twice been dropped to the bench, featuring for 53 minutes before being hooked against Reims before being one of three players replaced at the break on Sunday as Lyon lost 2-1 at home to a Clermont side that was previously at the foot of the table.
The Rhone club, dominant in Ligue 1 only 15 years ago, have only three points to their credit this term and now have that inauspicious mantle.
Grosso threatens to deepen Cherki divide
Grosso, who said Cherki is “not special” prior to the match, was once again severe with the 20-year-old.
“I keep taking him off because he deserves it,” he told the media. “Talent is useless if he doesn’t ask more of himself.
“He can do a lot more and he knows it. I know he knows it because he understands football more.
Talent without effort only stays talent. Talent with effort can be magnificent.
- Fabio Grosso“He has enormous qualities but it’s no use if you don’t put them together in the right way. You have to start from there.
“Talent without effort only stays talent. Talent with effort can be magnificent, and he can become a magnificent player.”
Certainly, Cherki won few fans with the manner of his attitude as Lyon limped in 2-0 down at the break to Clermont, and yet he did offer two key passes in what was an otherwise forgettable 45 minutes.
It was easy to watch his performance and believe that he is a player who wishes that a summer move to PSG or Chelsea had materialised.
And yet, this is in direct contract to his performances with France U21 in recent weeks. In a 9-0 win over Cyprus, he played a role in eight of the goals for Thierry Henry’s side.
But if the Arsenal legend has unpicked the puzzle of the exciting youngster, Grosso certainly hasn’t – and that’s a major problem for club, coach and player.
As the Italian noted, Cherki remains a massive talent, but unless he strikes up an understanding with his new boss, it threatens to be forgotten in Lyon.
Both the club and player are in a crisis moment, and it is in the interests of both that the thrilling attacker can quickly rediscover his best level.
