Man City player ratings vs Brentford: Who needs Erling Haaland?! Sublime Rayan Cherki leads Cityzens into Carabao Cup semis as goal machine rests up on the bench

Manchester City advanced to the Carabao Cup semi-finals, showcasing their squad depth in a victory over Brentford. Rayan Cherki's outstanding performance highlighted the match, proving City's attacking prowess even with Erling Haaland resting. Here's how each player fared:

• James Trafford (6/10):** Trafford displayed secure handling, effectively dealing with long-range shots from Jensen and Ajer. He wasn't heavily tested throughout the match.
• Rico Lewis (6/10):** Lewis consistently aimed to propel City forward when in possession. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. his defensive play wasn't always sound, as Henry managed to get behind him on several occasions.
• Abdukodir Khusanov (5/10):** Khusanov's performance was inconsistent. He was fortunate to avoid a red card for a challenge on Schade and appeared vulnerable when defending his own goal in the first half. He improved significantly after halftime, making crucial interventions as Brentford sought an equalizer.
• Nathan Ake (6/10):** Ake provided stability in central defense and contributed to an effective offside trap.
• Nico O'Reilly (6/10):** While not his best showing, the England left-back delivered a reasonable performance.
• Nico Gonzalez (7/10):** Gonzalez was a strong presence in City's midfield, disrupting Brentford's play and distributing the ball effectively before being substituted in the later stages of the game.
• Tijjani Reijnders (5/10):** Reijnders delivered a couple of well-weighted through balls, including the pass leading to Savinho's goal. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. his overall impact was inconsistent, and he appeared uncomfortable in a false nine role.
• Rayan Cherki (9/10):** Cherki shone brightly during his 65 minutes on the field. The French international displayed an array of skills and consistently found space to create opportunities, capping his performance with a stunning 20-yard goal.
• Oscar Bobb (6/10):** Bobb caused problems for Rico Henry early on but was unfortunately forced off the field due to an injury within the first 20 minutes.
• Divine Mukasa (5/10):** Mukasa started as a center forward but seemed more effective on the right wing after Bobb's injury. He showed flashes of brilliance with confident flicks and a curling shot that narrowly missed the target, but his involvement fluctuated.
• Savinho (6/10):** Savinho repeatedly outmaneuvered Michael Kayode, but his final delivery was lacking until a deflection off Ajer helped his shot find the net, making the score 2-0.
• Phil Foden (8/10):** Brought on early for the injured Bobb, Foden immediately demonstrated his quality as a false nine. He dropped deeper after the break and was unlucky not to score before being substituted in the final 10 minutes.
• Josko Gvardiol (6/10):** Gvardiol replaced O'Reilly for the final 25 minutes, gaining some playing time at left-back.
• Matheus Nunes (6/10):** Nunes provided a steady presence in his natural midfield position after coming on for Gonzalez.
• Bernardo Silva (6/10):** Silva brought considerable energy to the game after replacing Cherki midway through the second half.
• Charlie Gray (N/A):** Gray made his debut in the final 10 minutes.
• Pep Guardiola (7/10):** Bobb's early injury forced Guardiola to adjust his plans for Foden's playing time. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. his other squad rotations proved effective in securing the victory.