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Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole that the “breakout performance” of Nico O’Reilly against Bournemouth is one that manager Pep Guardiola will find “impossible to ignore”.
The Citizens were trailing at half time in Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final clash at the Vitality Stadium, but Guardiola worked his magic at the break by sending on academy graduate O’Reilly, who put in a man-of-the-match display as a marauding left-back.
The 20-year-old set up both of City’s second-half goals scored by Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush as the Citizens came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory and set up a semi-final clash with Nottingham Forest at Wembley Stadium at the end of April.
Although O’Reilly primarily operates as a midfielder, the youngster has been a standout performer for Man City as a left-back in this season’s FA Cup, scoring three goals, registering two assists and receiving two Man of the Match awards across four games.
After impressing in the previous three rounds against lower-league opposition, O’Reilly elevated his game to a higher level in the win over Bournemouth, and McInerney believes the England Under-20 international has made himself an “indispensable” squad option for Guardiola.
“There’s not many things more sweeter, regardless of the level of the team you support, than seeing a local lad… seeing this lifelong blue, and I mean that in terms of him literally playing for City since he was a child, essentially inspire your team to a Wembley trip,” McInerney told Sports Mole.
Could FA Cup star O’Reilly develop Vieira-esque physique?
“It’s everything as a football fan. We’ve been spoiled as City fans over the past decade or two with glorious international superstars and brilliant footballers, but there’s still a piece of me as a local Manchester lad, as a lifelong City fan who sees these young lads coming through and I can’t help but smile because they’re living the dream that we want as football fans.
“It does mean a lot to me and it does mean more when you see these academy lads in the side and I think we’ve been waiting for this moment for Nico O’Reilly. There’s been a lot of frustration around his progression, or lack of this season, given that Guardiola leaned on him quite heavily during pre-season.
“He isn’t a left-back, he’s not even a defensive midfielder or number eight. He was typically either a striker or a false nine or a ten for the academy side, so essentially a very central, very forward player. Guardiola looked at him, saw the profile, ridiculously big, he’s a giant this guy, he’s 6ft 2in – an inch or two more with his hair as well – a really big lad.
“He’s strong, he’s athletic, the way he’ll grow out will be very Patrick Vieira-esque in terms of his physique, that big, leggy, elegant runner that can bulldoze past people.
“Guardiola saw him and decided with his skill set that he’s got, he could probably play in the centre of the park, a little bit deeper and dominate games and I really liked that decision. There were some indications that Nico O’Reilly didn’t fully believe he could play that role from Guardiola himself, but I think Guardiola’s right to push it.
“My favourite ever tactical thing that Guardiola’s done since joining City is when he turns creative players into more complete players… I think he’s looking at Nico O’Reilly right now and thinks this guy already very creative, he’s scored some great goals for the academy sides, he’s a very good passer, great feet, but if he learns to defend as well, he could be the complete midfielder and have so much more tools.
“Obviously the left-back role is a big part of that and he’s had a couple of good performances in the FA Cup and I’ve been waiting to see a little bit more from him.”
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“O’Reilly put City on his shoulders and carried us to the semi-finals”
McInerney has suggested that the development of O’Reilly must be taken into consideration when Guardiola and incoming sporting director Hugo Viana plan to reshape Man City’s squad ahead of next season.
“I think Guardiola, he’s always relied on senior experience, but I think now Nico O’Reilly’s just made himself indispensable in terms of the squad option. You cannot see that performance and ignore it, it’s too hard.
“Guardiola has implied that the one thing he loves about young players is that they’re fearless, but he said he’s always felt that you don’t put them in the pressure-cooker situations because it’s a lot to lean on.
“He’s [since] said he might be wrong and I think there’s a realisation from Guardiola that actually I need to stop mollycoddling these players and just trust them because they’re fearless, these young lads.
“I think Nico O’Reilly was excellent. I can’t wait to see his development. He’s got everything. He’s massive, he’s strong. He bullied [Antoine] Semenyo and that’s not easy to do. He pushed him off the ball in that second half.
“He put City on his shoulders and carried us to the semi-finals. It was a real breakout performance from Nico O’Reilly, and I think one that Guardiola and Hugo Viana when they plan the squad for next season will find impossible to ignore. I love it!”
Press play on the video at the top of this article to hear the full discussion.
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