Pep Guardiola is proud of his new England international but the hard work has just begun | OneFootball

Nico O’Reilly has gone from strength to strength as a player this season. He has firmly established himself as the first-choice left-back at Manchester City. O’Reilly has also become an England international. The City academy graduate has fast become a success story for Manchester City’s academy and his rise and ability to play in a new position are a credit to Nico O’Reilly. Pep Guardiola has pointed out that Nico O’Reilly’s rise to become an England international is a credit to City’s academy system. The City manager also pointed out that the hard work has just begun for Nico O’Reilly.

Pep Guardiola had special praise for Nico O’Reilly and the Manchester City academy system.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola had high praise for Nico O’Reilly and Manchester City’s academy after seeing Nico O’Reilly become an England international over the recent international break. But Pep Guardiola also cautioned that the hard work had just begun for Nico O’Reilly after the City youngster’s meteoric rise this season. Speaking on Nico O’Reilly earning his first cap for England, Pep Guardiola said: “I’m happy for him. Hopefully, he can continue and be humble, hopefully, he will not be confused, sometimes [that can happen] at that age when you reach the highest level and play with your country. Hopefully, he can be stable.”

“I’m absolutely delighted for the Academy and all the people who work with him from a little boy. The managers, the scouts.”

“All the people involved in his development to reach the national team is a big, big compliment.”

The tests will keep coming for Nico O’Reilly but he is built for such challenges.

So far the 25/26 season has seen Nico O’Reilly continue to grow as a player. He made his mark in the City first team during the latter stages of last season. This season he has come on in leaps and bounds as a player and his impressive form for Manchester City has now seen him become a full England international.

From here the challenges will come thick and fast for Nico O’Reilly. Keeping his place at left-back in Pep Guardiola’s is the one. Maintaining his place in Thomas Tuchel’s squad is another. But Nico O’Reilly is made of the right stuff to face those two challenges head-on. In fact given the impressive form of Nico O’Reilly this season it would not be a surprise to see the City youngster take his game to another level as the challenges come.

Pep Guardiola is right, Nico O’Reilly has done supremely well to become an England international already. But the hard work has only just begun for O’Reilly. Based on how well he has started his senior career it wouldn’t be a shock to see Nico O’Reilly embrace the challenges that lie ahead and become an even better player at a rapid rate.