“He’s on top form” – Nico O’Reilly credits Manchester City unsung hero for title hopes | OneFootball

Manchester City full-back Nico O’Reilly has hailed compatriot and fellow academy graduate Phil Foden for steering the Blues in the right direction in recent months.

O’Reilly has been one of City’s success stories this term, having solidified his status as Pep Guardiola’s preferred left-back and keeping £31 million summer signing Rayan Ait-Nouri on the bench as he goes from strength to strength amid a brilliant run of form.

The 20-year-old broke into the senior ranks from Manchester City’s academy last term and after playing a key role in the first-team squad in the latter stages of a challenging 2024-25 season, O’Reilly was awarded with an improved contract till 2030 in September.

Born in Manchester, O’Reilly – a natural attacking midfielder – has exceeded expectations whilst operating out of position at full-back for a Guardiola side in transition – notably allowing Josko Gvardiol to move to his preferred centre-half position after the Croatian filled in at left-back for a large part of his opening two seasons at the Etihad Stadium.

The young defender’s heroics have not gone unnoticed by England manager Thomas Tuchel, who is a big fan of O’Reilly and has already tested Manchester City’s homegrown star at left-back as he mulls over who will start for the Three Lions in defence at next summer’s FIFA World Cup.

O’Reilly has enjoyed a stellar 2025 and is a strong contender to be Manchester City’s best player of the calendar year, having recently discussed his rise to the senior squad as well as the title race with Arsenal – in conversation with the club’s official channels.

“It’s easier playing with players you play with every two or three days – you build connections and relationships,” the England international said.

“I’ve got Josko (Gvardiol) next to me most of the time and if I jump up, he’s there to cover and vice versa. The relationship with Jez (Jeremy Doku) too – if he wants to go inside, I’m outside and the other way too.”

Manchester City are right on Arsenal’s heels in the Premier League title race and O’Reilly has spoken of how, despite being in an embryonic stage of their transition under director of football Hugo Viana, his side are on track courtesy of certain players up front who have stepped up and shouldered responsibility in recent months.

“It’s all clicking nicely,” O’Reilly added. “We’ve realised each other’s strengths and work off each other. Everything has come pretty naturally – all the games come so fast and we’re all playing so many minutes. When it’s like that, it’s easier to understand each other.”

The City Academy Graduate went on to rave about Erling Haaland and Phil Foden, giving the latter his flowers as the 2023-24 PFA Players’ Player of the Year has well and truly returned to his best form since September.

O’Reilly added: “As soon as we’re around the goal, we know where Erling (Haaland) is going to be, what the wingers can do, Phil (Foden) has found his spark and he’s on top form. This is what we needed – players to step up like that. We’re in great form and doing very well.

“It’s something you have to put to the side. There’s a lot of games to come – we’re in a great position at the minute but take every game as it comes. We go into each game needing three points if we want to be anywhere near at the end of the season. We focus on our own games.”

O’Reilly scored his first-ever UEFA Champions League goal against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu earlier this month and Guardiola will want the young full-back to stay fit and firing as the season progresses and Manchester City vie for silverware on multiple fronts.