Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that new signing Rayan Cherki will be sidelined for up to two months after he was absent from Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion, Afrosport reports.
The 22-year-old Frenchman of Algerian heritage did not feature against the Seagulls after he was taken off injured in the 2-0 home defeat against Tottenham Hotspur the previous week.
Giving his assessment on the injury, Guardiola said: “He’s out for two months. Seven or eight weeks.”
Reflecting on the defeat at the Amex Stadium, the Catalan tactician stated: “We forgot to play [after the penalty]. We decided to play direct, fine, but you have to be ready – be there.”
“We were not ready to win the second [balls] when they happened. The momentum always happens in the Premier League, a goal can do that, but we forgot to play.
“We played brilliantly for the first hour. We created a lot against a tough opponent.
“But after the goal, it was like Spurs – we play really good in the beginning, we concede a goal and then we are a little bit more unstable.
“We forget to continue playing. You can never stop to play.”
Pep provides Rayan Cherki injury update 💬 pic.twitter.com/AsQdF6crwt
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 31, 2025
City’s defeat sees them 13th on the Premier League table, six points behind leaders and reigning champions Liverpool.
They will host fierce crosstown rivals Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium after the international break on September 14.
