Pep Guardiola sends message to Hugo Viana on £50M Manchester City man after failed summer exit | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was full of praise for January signing Nico Gonzalez after his side registered their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-final with a 3-1 win over Swansea City on Wednesday evening.

Gonzalez was back in the starting XI for the Blues in Wales after only making the bench against Aston Villa on Sunday, when Manchester City suffered their first defeat in 10 games in all competitions and operated with John Stones and Tijjani Reijnders in the middle of the park.

Guardiola and co welcomed Ballon d’Or winning star Rodri back to first-team training last week but Manchester City’s coaching staff are expected to be extra careful in managing the 29-year-old’s minutes as the season progresses given his injury record in the last 12 months.

Manchester City have turned a corner since their early season slump and Guardiola will be delighted with his side making waves in all competitions, with City in fifth place in the UEFA Champions League group-stage rankings after picking up two wins and a draw in their opening trio of European games this term.

The eight-time Premier League champions named a much-changed lineup against Swansea in the Carabao Cup fourth-round on Wednesday evening, with Gonzalez starting in midfield after being deemed fit to start.

Since joining Manchester City from Porto for £50 million in January, Gonzalez has gone from strength to strength and has been one of Guardiola’s most reliable players in recent months as he continues to steer the ship in midfield amidst the continuing absence of Rodri.

Gonzalez anchored the midfield once again for the Blues, who overturned a narrow deficit with a strong second-half showing against Swansea City as goals from Jeremy Doku, Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki secured a 3-1 win for the Premier League outfit in Wales.

“Now he’s fundamental for us. Defensively he helped us a lot,” said Guardiola on Gonzalez after Manchester City’s Carabao Cup fourth-round triumph over Swansea City.

“We have an incredible lot of players offensively that don’t have the mentality to defend – not because they don’t want to run. Defending means when you’re close to the opponent you take the ball and win it.

“We’re not top in that. Nico (Gonzalez) helped us, but especially on the ball; he moves much, much better in the right positions, much (more) clever and aware of the spaces free.

“He’s so young, a lovely guy. I’m really pleased because these types of football players that are incredibly coachable – they deserve the best!”

Gonzalez will be crucial for Manchester City in their upcoming run of games against Bournemouth, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, with Guardiola and co looking to challenge on all fronts this season in the backdrop of a subpar 2024-25 campaign.