The strides taken by one Manchester City player has given great versatility to Pep Guardiola’s squad. | OneFootball

The strides taken by one Manchester City player has given great versatility to Pep Guardiola’s squad. | OneFootball

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·15 February 2026

The strides taken by one Manchester City player has given great versatility to Pep Guardiola’s squad.

Article image:The strides taken by one Manchester City player has given great versatility to Pep Guardiola’s squad.

Ever since he burst onto the scene late last season, Nico O’Reilly has risen from a talented young player to become a vital player for Manchester City. O’Reilly firmly established himself as a left-back for City, as his size and ability to get forward added a new dimension to City’s play. Nico O’Reilly impressed so much at left-back that he is now an England international and very much the favourite to start at left-back for England at the upcoming World Cup. Recently, Nico O’Reilly has shifted into midfield where he has shone. O’Reilly’s play in midfield has been strong, and with his versatility and talent, he is now a vital cog in the Manchester City machine.

Shifting Nico O’Reilly into midfield has given Manchester City another dynamic in the engine room.

In recent weeks, Nico O’Reilly has shifted into midfield. His past two performances against Liverpool and Fulham have shown why Pep Guardiola moved the England international into midfield. O’Reilly played a key role in two crucial Manchester City wins, albeit in a different manner in each match.


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Against Liverpool in Manchester City’s 2-1 win at Anfield, Nico O’Reilly, alongside Bernardo Silva and Rodri helped City dominate the first half at Anfield. O’Reilly helped City dominate the midfield battle against Arne Slot’s side. He knew exactly where to be in possession and out of possession. O’Reilly’s ability to win duels, and his strength and physicality, greatly aided his team’s cause. As the second half unfolded and Arne Slot’s side got on top, O’Reilly did all of the midfield dirty work to keep his team in the game. Alongside Rodri and Bernardo, Nico O’Reilly helped his team stay in the game before they fought back spectacularly to claim a massive victory.

Article image:The strides taken by one Manchester City player has given great versatility to Pep Guardiola’s squad.

The attacking side of Nico O’Reilly’s game caught the eye against Fulham.

Manchester City followed their massive win over Liverpool with a routine 3-0 win over Fulham at the Etihad. Pep Guardiola’s side blew Marco Silva’s side away with 40 minutes of sublime all-around football. Every City player did their bit in that spell of the match. For Nico O’Reilly, he got to display his attacking prowess in that stage of the match. O’Reilly scored City’s second goal of the night with a superb finish. He combined superbly with Erling Haaland first of all, and then Antoine Semenyo to score his team’s second goal of the match. Nico O’Reilly rose through the ranks at City as an attacking midfielder. That was on full display against Fulham.

Against Liverpool, the grit and determination shone through. As City dispatched Fulham, O’Reilly’s ability to get forward stood out. The England international has shown all sides of his game in midfield recently, and that makes him invaluable to Pep Guardiola’s side and system.

Nico O’Reilly’s ability to play multiple roles makes him a valuable weapon for Pep Guardiola.

Nico O’Reilly’s ability to play in midfield or at left-back makes an invaluable weapon for Manchester City. Pep Guardiola knows he has a player who has the physical attributes to make.a real difference in both positions for his team. Versatility is increasingly valuable in the modern game, where squads are expected to adapt quickly to different situations, much in the same way supporters often look for flexible ways to manage online spending, whether through prepaid options such as a Neosurf voucher UK on Eneba or other digital payment methods. O’Reilly gives Guardiola that same flexibility on the pitch, offering solutions in a variety of roles when City need them most.

Nico O’Reilly has been one of the success stories for Manchester City this season. He has taken the next step in his young career, going from a talented youngster to a key player at City. As Pep Guardiola’s side chases honors on multiple fronts this season, you can see O’Reilly playing a key role in City’s pursuit of success.

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