A Manchester City left-back was superb for City against Galatasaray | OneFootball

After arriving at Manchester City from Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer, Rayan Ait-Nouri has had a stop-start beginning to his City career. Injury and his participation at AFCON have held Ait-Nouri back this season, as has Nico O’Reilly’s rise to become Manchester City’s first-choice left-back. Ait-Nouri has had to bide his time to make a contribution for Pep Guardiola’s side. Ait-Nouri started at left-back in Manchester City’s 2-nil win over Galatasaray in a crucial Champions League fixture last night. The Algerian international showed exactly what he adds to City’s play as he put in an impressive display.

Rayan Ait-Nouri played his best game for Manchester City last night against Galatasaray.

With Rodri suspended and Nico on the bench as he returns from injury, Pep Guardiola moved Nico O’Reilly into midfield for last night’s match. Due to this, Rayan Ait-Nouri started at left-back. Ait-Nouri proceeded to put in a superb display for Manchester City against Galatasaray. He was a weapon going forward and was strong defensively. It was a fine performance from the Algerian international, and it was clear from the game’s opening minutes that Ait-Nouri was up for last night’s match.

Rayan Ait-Nouri should have had an assist in the third minute of last night’s match. He made a superb overlapping run on the left and picked out Erling Haaland with a superb cross. Unfortunately, Haaland headed a gilt-edged chance wide of the far post. But Ait-Nouri’s run and cross indicated the threat he posed to the Galatasaray defence. Throughout last night’s match, Ait-Nouri was a constant threat, and with his superb technical ability and ability to get forward on the overlap and at times link up City’s play through the middle, the Algerian international showed exactly what he adds to Pep Guardiola’s side in possession.

Defensively, Ait-Nouri was solid throughout last night’s match. As per Sofascore, Ait-Nouri won 6/10 duels and 2/2 aerial duels. He contained any threat that could have come from the right from Galatasaray. That was pleasing to see from Ait-Nouri as his all-around display was brilliant last night. It by far and away Rayan Ait-Nouri’s best performance as a Manchester City player last night.

Pep Guardiola now has a different option to utilize at left-back.

Rayan Ait-Nouri has all the ingredients necessary to be an important player in Pep Guardiola’s squad. He offers a different option to Nico O’Reilly at left-back. Ait-Nouri offers better delivery into the final third than O’Reilly. That isn’t a knock on O’Reilly, but he offers a vastly different set of attributes to Rayan Ait-Nouri in the position. We saw that last night against Galatasaray. If Rayan Ait-Nouri’s performance against Galatasaray can be a marker for him on the road ahead, Manchester City will be even more dangerous given how important full-backs providing width have become. Ait-Nouri has the game to be extremely important in the City setup, and hopefully his performance last night is an indication of what’s to come from the Algerian international.