Pep Guardiola raves about Manchester City star’s generosity to play in makeshift role | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has showered praise on Nico O’Reilly for his versatility and selflessness to operate at left-back despite primarily being an attacking midfielder.

O’Reilly has been a silver lining of the cloud covereing Manchester City’s sub-standard season that has witnessed the Premier League winners from 2021-24 surrender their crown to Arne Slot’s Liverpool side without putting up a genuine fight for the title.

The Blues were also comfortable beaten in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie by holders Real Madrid, with City losing both legs and crashing out to Carlo Ancelotti’s side courtesy of a 6-2 aggregate defeat.

The FA Cup remains the sole shot at silverware for Manchester City this season and goals from Rico Lewis and Josko Gvardiol against Nottingham Forest ensured City reach another final at Wembley, where they will come up against Crystal Palace next month.

Nico O’Reilly has been one of Guardiola’s best players in recent months, spearheading City to the FA Cup final with an array of match-winning displays and popping up with crucial goals in the Premier League to drag his boyhood club a few steps closer to a top five league finish.

Asked about what makes O’Reilly so special prior to City’s FA Cup semi-final win on Sunday, Guardiola said: “Physicality, presence, attacking midfielder, (he is) composed with the ball, (I am) surprised how defensively attentive he is, (he) has pace.

“(O’Reilly) gives us an extra player on set pieces that helps because we’re weak in that position, generosity to play a position he’s not used to and giving everything. In the back-four now, we’re stable – pace with Josko (Gvardiol), Mateus (Nunes) and Nico (O’Reilly) because they’re so fast and the intelligence, leadership, unbelievable leadership from Ruben (Dias).”

The 19-year-old from Manchester again justified his selection on the big stage as he repaid his manager’s faith in him by impressing against Forest at the weekend and Manchester City will be keen to tie down one of their best academy talents to a new, long-term deal in the summer.