Nico O’Reilly scored twice as Manchester City won the Carabao Cup at Wembley on Sunday and he now has a chance to nail down his England starting spot.
Nico O’Reilly scored twice for Manchester City and will now join up with England for the upcoming international break
Nico O’Reilly has just had the greatest weekend of his life. An England call-up, his 21st birthday and two goals at Wembley to earn Manchester City a 2-0 win over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final.
As a boyhood Blue that will be hard to top, but something that might would be achieving similar for England at the World Cup.
Thomas Tuchel’s left-back headache has been a topic of wide debate for the length of his England tenure. O’Reilly has two caps under the German, playing 180 minutes across consecutive 2-0 wins over Serbia and Albania.
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He has a host of rivals for the spot in Dan Burn, Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento, and Djed Spence but if club form is the then O’Reilly sits top of the list, perhaps closely rivalled by Hall.
O’Reilly has become a key cog in Guardiola’s ever-transforming framework, depicting the role of both an attacking full-back and a box-crashing midfielder. At Wembley, Guardiola tinkered his side’s tactical dynamic in and out of possession – and as great players do – O’Reilly executed his role to perfection.
Both his goals were similar close-range headers following a late run into the box using his height and power. Tuchel has previously worked with similar moulds of left-back in the past too. Tall and powerful have been consistent traits the German has valued in club football.
The likes of Marcos Alonso, Alphonso Davies, and Mitchel Bakker have all fitted that bill at respective clubs – and O’Reilly could well be the leading contender for that role in Tuchel’s first major tournament as England manager.
English left backs have entered what feels like a drag race down the final straight. With Newcastle and Tottenham struggling in recent weeks, O’Reilly is in pole position to start the first game of the World Cup against Croatia come June.
England’s 2026 World Cup kits
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Manchester City secured their first silverware of the season after beating Arsenal 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday
James Trafford and Nico O’Reilly were Manchester City’s heroes in the Carabao Cup final(Image: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
Manchester City have entered the final international break of the season with fresh optimism after beating Arsenal 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday. The victory and the manner of it has led many to back City to catch the Gunners in what would be a superb turnaround.
Regardless of whether or not they manage it, winning the League Cup is incredibly important for this group of players as they aim to replicate the dominance of the previous Pep Guardiola generation. With a new sense of confidence and belief, City will enjoy the next few weeks.
With the season heading towards an exciting crescendo, MEN Sport has taken a look at the six winners and losers from this campaign so far.
Winners
Nico O’Reilly
This is not merely recency bias, O’Reilly has enjoyed a brilliant year for the Blues. Guardiola hailed him as the ‘signing of the season’ after the Carabao Cup final and you can see where he was coming from.
O’Reilly is the latest midfielder who has had to adapt to playing left-back but he has done so, excellently. The 21-year-old provided cover when needed but has shown he is more than just a stand-in for City.
In midfield, he has performed well despite bigger names arriving in the summer. His brace at Wembley was just rewards for an impressive campaign.
Bernardo Silva
If this is to be his final chapter, Bernardo is looking to go out on a high. The original utility player for Guardiola has led by example this season and fully deserved to lift that trophy on Sunday.
Should he leave at the end of the campaign, expect Guardiola to shed a tear like he has when the likes of Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne left. The midfielder should be held in the same high regard as those club legends.
Winning silverware this season also means Bernardo’s time at City does not end on a sour note, regardless of what happens between now and May.
Gianluigi Donnarumma
Erling Haaland’s patchy form in recent weeks means he just misses out as being the third winner on the list to Donnarumma. The Italian goalkeeper has been sensational this campaign with his performance at Anfield just one that will live long in the memory.
He arrived as the anti-Guardiola goalkeeper in many ways. While his ability to play out from the back has been understated, he was never going to be the next Ederson.
Instead, he is one of the best shot stoppers in the world and this has led him to keep another sensational goalkeeper out of the team.
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Losers
James Trafford
That other sensational goalkeeper is Trafford. Having signed from Burnley, the 23-year-old would have felt he was going to be first choice, until Donnarumma came along.
He has had to make do with a lack of games but City’s performances in the FA and Carabao Cup has given him more minutes than he perhaps would have received. As is the nature of this season, even those who have lost out have had moments to shine.
Trafford’s moment was under the arch on Sunday and nobody could have been happier for him than Guardiola and Donnarumma.
Phil Foden
After a brilliant November into December period, Foden has gone off the boil for the Blues. He has not scored since the win over Crystal Palace in December and since the Manchester derby, he has been forced into cameo roles from the bench.
This season was expected to be the response after a difficult 2024/25 where fixture congestion took its toll. But it has not quite happened for the midfielder.
He is in the England squad for this international break but there is no guarantee he will go to the World Cup if he does not, a) play more games and b) contribute more goals and assists.
John Stones
Stones has also made the England squad this month but he won’t think his spot on the plane is guaranteed either. The centre-back has had a decorated career at City despite injuries plaguing his career.
This season, a thigh issue kept him out for two months and he has struggled to find a rhythm since. It is expected he will leave at the end of this campaign and whoever snaps up the 31-year-old will be getting a brilliant defender.
But injuries have meant this season has not been the potential farewell tour he deserved.
Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-0 in the League Cup final with Nico O’Reilly the best player on the pitch in a terrific team performance.
Nico O’Reilly scored both goals for Manchester City
Manchester City won the Carabao Cup for the first time since 2021 with a 2-0 win over Arsenal. The Quadruple dreams are over for Mikel Arteta’s men as Pep Guardiola’s side give themselves a trophy and what they hope is a springboard for the Premier League and FA Cup this season.
Arsenal started strongly against a City side that had Ruben Dias ruled out of the game with injury, restricting the Blues to no shots on target in the opening 45 minutes despite having 60 per cent possession. But City grew into the game and turned the tables on Arsenal in the second half as they attacked the end in front of their own fans.
Two goals from Nico O’Reilly in front of England manager Thomas Tuchel gave City a lead that they did not give up and James Trafford was able to celebrate a clean sheet as well.
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Here are the player ratings from the Manchester Evening News:
Trafford: Made that triple save early on to calm City nerves and barely put a foot wrong in what has been an excellent tournament. 8
Nunes: Drew Guardiola’s ire on a number of occasions in the first half but grew into it and did very well for the second goal. 7
Khusanov: His pace got City out of trouble on a number of occasions and his no-nonsense defending was mostly to City’s benefit, even if he was booked. 7
Ake: A few jittery moments over the course of the game but he also did plenty to ease City nerves by keeping cool under pressure. 7
O’Reilly: Nearly a 10 in an outstanding performance that saw him keep Saka and then Madueke quite while scoring two goals. 9
Rodri: He was immense, always picking the right pass and making sure City never lost control for too long at any point. 8
Silva: Did what he does so well, keeping the game ticking apart from when it needs breaking up with those fouls that go under the radar. 7
Cherki: Anonymous for the first half hour but really stood up and showed that he wanted the ball, even showboating in the second half. 8
Semenyo: Saw plenty of the ball but it felt like he didn’t test Hincapie enough and he was uncharacteristically wasteful in front of goal. 6
Doku: Struggled as a lone out-ball early on, then started making better decisions and Arsenal couldn’t get the ball back. 8
Haaland: Pushed and shoved with the two centre-backs all game, came back to win possession and contributed despite not scoring. 7
Substitutes
Foden (for Cherki, 89): No time. N/A
Not used: Donnarumma, Ait-Nouri, Stones, Kovacic, Reijnders, Gonzalez, Marmoush, Savinho
Manchester City midfielder Nico O’Reilly is aiming to right the wrongs of the last trip to Wembley Stadium
Manchester City star Nico O’Reilly(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Growing up, Nico O’Reilly followed Manchester City closely. Whenever he could get a ticket, the future star was in the stands supporting the Blues. When he couldn’t, like for City’s major cup finals at Wembley Stadium, O’Reilly was glued to the TV screens as his team became the dominant force in English football.
On Sunday, O’Reilly will likely be in the XI as City look to win the first major trophy of the season and land an important blow on Arsenal in the process. “[I’m] really looking forward to it,” he said. “Wembley is a special place. I’ve played there a few times – Community Shield we won, FA Cup we didn’t win. So, yeah, it’d be nice to go there and hopefully win.”
“We know how good they are,” O’Reilly said when asked about the Gunners. “We know it’s going to be difficult. They’ve been very good this season. But we look forward to big games and it should be a good one. They play a bit different to us. They’ve got some amazing players, individual players, they play well as a team, they know what they’re doing.
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“So it’s going to be a tough game. We know that. But it’ll be a tough game for them as well. We’re looking forward to it.”
Mikel Arteta’s side have been synonymous with set pieces this season and have faced criticism for their approach. But O’Reilly hopes his team can draw on past experience to keep the Gunners out.
“It’s a strong point in their team. They use them very well,” he said. “”We need to prepare for it. We did it in the game when we went to their place. I thought we were very good then.
“We just need to prepare for it well and stop them as much as possible. They’re very good at set-pieces, they’re aggressive. They have good takers.
“When it’s a corner, obviously, we don’t want to be in those situations because we know how good they are but we’ll obviously need to deal with it and prepare well for it.”
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The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.
O’Reilly signed a new contract at City in September last year, keeping him at the Etihad Stadium until 2030. That was a huge milestone for the 20-year-old who has become one of City’s most versatile players. The midfielder’s family are his biggest supporters, attending every match and keeping him grounded along the way. O’Reilly has not forgotten his roots either. He lived in Collyhurst in the east side of Manchester and has the city’s area code ‘0161’ tattooed on him.
“It’s me, really, like how I became who I am today,” O’Reilly concluded. “Growing up there, I really enjoyed it. I used to go out, play football every day with my friends. It was a good place to grow up. I recently moved away from there but it was a great place. I’m still with my family, which is good. They’re there to look after me a bit and still support me. I enjoy it.”
Manchester City were thrashed 3-0 by Real Madrid in the Champions League to leave them needing a miracle in the second leg next week
Erling Haaland failed to impact the game as Manchester City were beaten by Real Madrid
Manchester City saw their Champions League hopes disappear for another year on another horrible night for them at the Bernabeu. Pep Guardiola picked an attacking team to take the game to Real Madrid but instead they were undone by three goals from Fede Valverde in an astonishing first 45 minutes.
Gianluigi Donnarumma gave away a penalty in the second half that could have buried City, but the keeper did get back to his feet to keep Vincius’s spot-kick out. That will give City a glimmer of hope for the second leg, but they were unable to build on that by getting any goals back in Madrid.
An outstanding reaction save from Thibaut Courtois stopped a certain goal from Nico O’Reilly and City had nothing else to offer. Here are the player ratings from the Manchester Evening News.
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Donnarumma: Could possibly have done better on at least one of the goals and gave away the penalty, but a good save to keep City alive. 5
Khusanov: Started really well against Vinicius but lost his way and then couldn’t reassert himself in the game. 5
Dias: Couldn’t keep things together at the back, although he did try to push them forward in the second half. 5
Guehi: Probably his most uncomfortable night in a City shirt, struggling to stay on top of his game and beaten by Valverde for a goal. 5
O’Reilly: Exposed for the opening goal and struggled defensively all game. Improved in midfield but far from his best. 4
Rodri: Not a return to Madrid that he will remember fondly as he could not stop Real from bypassing City’s midfield. 5
Silva: Wasn’t great on set-pieces or corners and couldn’t get on the ball to have an impact. 5
Semenyo: Willing to get on the ball and tried to make something happen in the final third, albeit his touch was loose. 5
Savinho: Didn’t do much wrong and won a couple of free-kicks in dangerous territory but was sacrificed for the system at half-time. 5
Doku: Looked like he was going to have Alexander-Arnold on toast yet he was double-marked out of the game and made some poor decisions in the final third. 5
Haaland: Didn’t offer anywhere near enough, and being taken off before the end tells its own story. 4
Substitutes
Reijnders (for Savinho, 46) Couldn’t influence the game. 5
Cherki (for Semenyo, 70) Tried to make things happen. 6
Ait-Nouri (for Silva, 70) Some good, some bad. Booked. 5
Marmoush (for Haaland, 82) No time.
Not used: Trafford, Bettinelli, Nunes, Alleyne, Ake, Stones, Gonzalez, Foden
Man City are in FA Cup action on Saturday as they take on Newcastle United at St James’ Park
Nico O’Reilly is an injury doubt for Manchester City’s FA Cup clash with Newcastle United(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Manchester City have a break from the drama of the Premier League title race this week as they look to make it into the quarter-final of the FA Cup.
Pep Guardiola’s side face a tough trip to St James’ Park to take on Newcastle in the third round in Saturday’s late kick-off. City will be looking to use the game to bounce back from the disappointment of the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest in their last outing.
Goals from Antoine Semenyo and Rodri had given them the lead twice in the game, but City found themselves pegged back on both occasions. The result, along with Arsenal’s win, saw the gap to the top of the Premier League table grow by another two points.
For City, eyes will now turn to cup competitions, with the FA Cup clash against the Magpies, followed by the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 clash against Real Madrid. Guardiola’s side travel to Spain for Wednesday night’s game.
Ahead of the clash against Newcastle, the City boss has given the latest on the injury status of his squad. Here’s a look at the latest from the treatment room at the Etihad Stadium.
The 20-year-old suffered an ankle injury in the win over Leeds, forcing him to miss the mid-week clash against Nottingham Forest.
What Guardiola has said: “He feels better, we will see today.”
Possible return date: Vs Newcastle (A), Sat 7 Mar (8pm) – FA Cup.
Max Alleyene
Injury: Knock
The defender picked up an injury in the fourth round FA Cup clash against Salford City, causing him to miss the last three Premier League matches.
Possible return date: Unknown.
Mateo Kovacic
Injury: Ankle
The midfielder has been missing since November due to an ankle injury.
What Guardiola has said: “We think Mateo will be ready for the World Cup, probably even earlier. It’s a complex injury and treatment; things are monitored daily. Recovery is going well.” (12 Feb)
Possible return date: May.
Josko Gvardiol
Injury: Shin
The defender has been out since January with a fractured leg suffered in the Premier League clash against Chelsea.
What’s been said: In a post to social media, he wrote: “This is a hard moment, but it will never define me. I know who I am and where I come from.
“I’ll fight every day to return stronger. I will rise again, better than ever.”
Manchester City are looking to bridge the gap to Arsenal in the Premier League title race, but they have fitness concerns over key players including Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland is a doubt for Man City’s clash with Nottingham Forest.(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester City host Premier League strugglers Nottingham Forest on Wednesday as they look to keep pressure on Arsenal in the Premier League title race.
Pep Guardiola’s side are unbeaten in all competitions since the 3-1 Champions League defeat to Bodo/Glimt at the end of January. They last tasted disappointment in the top-flight three days earlier when Manchester United ran out 2-0 winners at Old Trafford in the Manchester derby.
City have emerged out of a tricky period as Arsenal’s closest challengers with the Gunners under pressure to capitalise on their lead at the summit. Their 2-1 win over Chelsea on Sunday restored a five-point gap but with a win over Forest, the deficit can be reduced to two points.
They return to the Etihad Stadium after their 1-0 win over Leeds United after beating Daniel Farke’s side without Erling Haaland’s services.
Nico O’Reilly limped off in the final 20 minutes of the triumph to add a blemish to the result. Speaking on Tuesday, Guardiola provided an update on the England defender and their star striker.
READ MORE: ‘Arsenal dictate’ – Pep Guardiola talks set pieces after Liverpool FC gripeREAD MORE: Erling Haaland injury update as Pep Guardiola delivers Man City latest
Here, we round up their latest fitness concerns.
Erling Haaland
The Norwegian missed the trip to Elland Road with a “little injury” and Guardiola raised doubts over whether he would be fit enough to feature for the visit of Forest.
The City head coach relayed positive news about the striker but said a decision will be made.
He said: “He feels much better but yesterday we didn’t train and now we have training. We’ll decide today.”
Potential return date: March 4 vs Nottingham Forest
An ankle issue forced O’Reilly off at Elland Road on Saturday after picking up the problem during the 1-0 win.
The 20-year-old has emerged as a breakout star for City this season and he has been in red-hot form after turning goalscorer in the important win over Newcastle United.
He scored twice in the triumph over the Magpies but there will be an anxious wait over his fitness as they will also monitor his fitness ahead of a gruelling week which sees a trip to Newcastle United in the FA Cup on Saturday before their Champions League first-leg against Real Madrid.
Guardiola said: “The same, we will decide after training.”
Potential return date: March 4 vs Nottingham Forest
Josko Gvardiol
It was as a result of Josko Gvardiol’s leg injury that City sprung into action during the January transfer window.
The Croatian stopper’s injury compounded their injury troubles and led to the signing of Marc Guehi. While the England international has been a crucial addition, City will be looking for him to return to full fitness as soon as possible after being a versatile option for Guardiola’s side.
He suffered a fractured leg against Chelsea in January and is expected to remain sidelined for a lengthy period.
In a post to social media, he wrote: “This is a hard moment, but it will never define me. I know who I am and where I come from.
“I’ll fight every day to return stronger. I will rise again, better than ever.”
Potential return date: Unknown.
Mateo Kovacic
The Croatian midfielder has been out for the majority of the season with an ankle injury and it is expected that he will be out for at least May.
Kovacic will have a race against time to be fit for the World Cup, in what could be one of his final tournaments, as the 31-year-old looks to be in contention in time for the prestigious competition.
The City boss has said previously: “We think Mateo will be ready for the World Cup, probably even earlier. It’s a complex injury and treatment; things are monitored daily. Recovery is going well.”
Potential return date: May.
Max Alleyne
Max Alleyne remains sidelined after picking up a knock during the FA Cup win over Salford City, last month.
There have been no fresh injury updates from Guardiola on the 20-year-old.
Potential return date: Unknown.
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about how the team have and haven’t prepared for the run-in
Pep Guardiola
Manchester City players know the pressure is ramping up in the Premier League – and Pep Guardiola is backing them to embrace it. The Blues go into the final third of the season after a fortnight without a midweek game as they look to reel in Arsenal at the top of the table.
Guardiola has given his players the best part of a week off in that time, only bringing them back in on the Wednesday before their Saturday games. The manager joked about wanting them to drink cocktails after their win over Newcastle as they look to enjoy their position with four trophies still in play.
City’s squad have impressed Guardiola on each of their returns to training, but there could easily have been more sessions. The team have struggled with their build-up this season and tailed off in the second half too often, which the coaching staff had been keen to address.
How much improvement has been made in this fortnight will soon become evident but Guardiola is happy for his team still to have shortcomings going into the business end of the season. Whatever issues they still have, a man who knows how to win titles is confident that fresh minds can help the mentality of his players to overcome any problems in their hunt for silverware.
“There are still things that we should train and practice more but I prioritised rest. With three months left, there are many things that the team have improved and still some things that the team has to improve but now it is [about] the little details,” he said.
“We talk many times about the same concepts and in my point of view now it is how it is in your brain and your mind will make the difference. Maybe for the new players it is new but we talk a lot in many meetings for many years that when you arrive in the last three months in all competitions being there everything is here [points to head].”
City have been boosted by the return of several players from injury in recent months, and the form of Rayan Ait-Nouri has allowed Nico O’Reilly to push forward into the midfield. The academy graduate has three goals in his last two games and has shown himself capable of playing in all of the three lines in front of the defence that have made for a successful formula for the Blues.
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Even if Guardiola is unwilling to discuss the title race in public, his players are happier to do so and O’Reilly knows that there is increasingly more at stake with every game they play. What is a much younger team than recent years is embracing it though as they look to keep pushing Arsenal.
“There’s a lot more pressure,” he said. “We go into the game knowing we need to win. All we need is three points. It’s about keeping a clear head and mind – keeping our heads down, working hard on the pitch – that’s what it comes down to.
“We just need to keep applying pressure now – every three points counts. We just need to keep going – we still have to play Arsenal here. There are teams still fighting and chasing – it’s a tough situation to be in but we just need to stick together and keep going.”
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The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.
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Our regular Q&A this week looks at Manchester City’s present danger from set-pieces, and the parts of Bernardo Silva, Rico Lewis and Nico O’Reilly in the club’s summer business
06:00, 26 Feb 2026
Nico O’Reilly and Elliot Anderson
There’s no shortage of Manchester City topics to discuss as Pep Guardiola’s men look to compete in four competitions this season after the disappointment of last year. We’ve got every game and press conference covered for you but we also know that there is so much more going on around that.
That’s why we are holding regular Q&A sessions with our chief City writer Simon Bajkowski. The day of the week it comes out on may change depending on what City’s schedule looks like, but essentially this is your chance to get an answer on anything you want – simply pop your question here at any time of the week and Simon will pick them all up and wrap everything up in one place.
This week has questions on whether Nico O’Reilly will change City’s summer transfer business, the futures of Bernardo Silva, Rico Lewis, and Pep Guardiola. There’s also a look at set-pieces and what City can expect until the end of the season.
Hi Simon. Since De Bruyne’s departure, the set-piece responsibilities seem to be shared more, and it feels like the designated taker changes from game to game. What is the current pecking order for set-piece takers in the squad? Who do you think is delivering the most accurate balls at the moment? And who do you expect to score the team’s first direct free-kick goal this season? TJ
Hi TJ, I’ll start with the last question first because it’s easier for me to answer as a punt. I’d expect the first direct free-kick to be scored by either Rayan Cherki or Omar Marmoush, for reasons that are hopefully obvious to everyone. Now for the more difficult bit…
It felt to me like City had a very slow start with attacking set-pieces this season, then hit their purple patch around November and December with usually inswinging corners from Phil Foden that Josko Gvardiol could get on the end of – either to direct at goal or head across for a teammate. There has also been some success with using Erling Haaland to flick on.
However, with Gvardiol injured and Foden out of form to the point he isn’t getting picked it feels like City haven’t quite had the rhythm. They have Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders that can bend balls in from either side but they don’t feel particularly dangerous from set-pieces at the moment.
Who do you think will replace Pep when he finally leaves City? I am very curious at this point. JD
You, me, and I think everybody else. We are firmly into Sir Alex Ferguson territory whereby when Guardiola leaves it is going to be pretty much impossible for the next man to live up to what has gone before him. City would like to think they are much better set up than United were in 2013, but it is still going to be interesting to see which direction City go in.
I may be wrong but I think they’re open to going in a number of ways when Guardiola leaves that will be decided in no small part by when the manager does indeed go. If he opts to leave this summer, the list of candidates and their placing won’t be the same as the shortlist if it is 2027 when City are hiring. Vincent Kompany would be the most popular pick, but he may be out of reach. Luis Enrique, Andoni Iraola, Enzo Maresca, Thomas Tuchel and Roberto De Zerbi have all caught the eye.
This may be Bernardo Silva’s last season with Manchester City. My question is: would the club want to extend his contract if they had the opportunity? Ulugbek
The answer is yes, yes, and yes again, Ulugbek. Silva looked a beaten man last season as he fell down amid everyone else falling around him, but he has been rejuvenated and his form in recent months has been terrific.
He has obvious limitations in attack but he knows what Guardiola wants in a game better than anyone else on the team and has shown this season that he can still cut it at the highest level; the equaliser at Anfield and ball through for the penalty showed that, with Guardiola later describing him as irreplaceable in the system that is working at the moment.
He’s not expected to stay but City will do everything they can to stop him from leaving until he steps through the exit door.
Nico O’Reilly has recently delivered impressive performances in the midfield role. Amid ongoing discussions regarding a potential successor to Bernardo Silva, many supporters have voiced their preference for Elliot Anderson as a candidate. However, O’Reilly’s strong displays in midfield may reduce the likelihood of Anderson’s arrival. Even so, questions remain as to whether Manchester City still consider Anderson a viable option and if he has been included on the club’s transfer shortlist. yjj
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Anderson is on the shortlist, and City will look to sign him this summer. After the signings of Semenyo and Guehi have instantly paid off, that will give even more encouragement to the idea of signing proven Premier League potential. Bernardo Silva is likely to leave and Mateo Kovacic and Rico Lewis could also go, so it is not a problem keeping O’Reilly in the midfield and adding Anderson as well.
City know they will face competition for him though, with United also beginning to fancy their chances as they grow more confident of earning a return to the Champions League for next season. If the price for Anderson is pushed up, that could cause City to question whether they still want to commit or look elsewhere and will be a test for new(ish) sporting director Hugo Viana.
Do you reckon Rico is gone in the summer? Noah S
An interesting question Noah, for one of the more interesting players in the squad. I believe Guardiola when he says that he loves the way Lewis plays and what he brings to the team, but at the same time the midfielder is barely getting a kick. The increase in physicality this year and scrums that have formed for every set-piece really don’t suit Lewis and Oscar Bobb – a tricky winger – has been effectively replaced by a much more physical specimen in Antoine Semenyo.
I can’t think Lewis will want another season with such limited game time, but if Bernardo Silva leaves that could open a route into the team for him – particularly if the rules are changed to stop the set-piece scrums next season. I’d say he is probably more likely to stay than go at the minute, but things can quickly change.
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The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.
What is your expectation for Manchester City this season? Noah S
We are getting into the sharp end of the season and City have a chance of winning four trophies, which is an achievement in itself. I think they will end up with at least one because they are good enough, although I’m not sure which it will be and it feels like Arsenal have an advantage for the Carabao Cup final with a much nicer schedule in the fortnight before it.
The Champions League will depend on who City draw in the last-16 but they will be unburdened in the competition because they are not seen as the big favourites that they had been before last season. The FA Cup feels like the competition City enjoy the most, but they are also looking dangerous in the Premier League. Their injuries are disappearing and if they can keep that for the next two months they should be in a very good place.
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Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva could leave the Etihad Stadium when his contract expires this summer.
Bernardo Silva celebrates during Manchester City’s victory over Newcastle United(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola is never short of praise for his Manchester City players. Win, lose or draw, Guardiola is the biggest cheerleader for this squad. However, there is one star who arguably receives more praise than most.
Captain Bernardo Silva moved to City in 2017 and quickly became a fan favourite. Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva may have stolen the midfield headlines but Bernardo’s quality has never been lost on Guardiola. “At the end we were guided by our incredible player, one of the best ever to play or train – our captain Bernardo,” the City head coach said after the Liverpool win.
“We follow him, I follow him too. He puts the team in front of himself. He does things through his own example. Everybody follows him, me the first. He scored the first one from the Erling [Haaland] assist, and made the assist for Matheus [Nunes] for the penalty.”
Guardiola would love nothing more than for Bernardo to sign a new contract at City. The captain has never been afraid to discuss his future and has looked set to depart on a number of occasions.
Bernardo has been ever-present this season and his versatility is a precious quality for any team. “[It is] so important,” Guardiola replied in 2023 when asked about versatile players. “That helps us to have a bigger and a longer squad.
“We have players like Bernardo and Phil [Foden] who can play in three or four different positions if we need it.”
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The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.
Antoine Semenyo was the in-demand forward ahead of this season’s January transfer window and you can see why. The Ghana international can play on the left, right or down the middle if needed.
City won that transfer battle and there are plenty more versatile players in their squad.
Nico O’Reilly graduated from the academy last season. He made nine appearances in the second half of the Premier League season, announcing himself at this level. But this season he has really started to flourish.
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After new signing Rayan Ait-Nouri picked up an injury, O’Reilly took his chance. Despite splashing more than £36m on Ait-Nouri, Guardiola stuck with the youngster.
When Ait-Nouri rediscovered his form, O’Reilly was moved into midfield – arguably the strongest area in the City squad. Has that fazed him? Absolutely not.
O’Reilly took his brace superbly against Newcastle and he is guaranteed to start at Leeds next weekend. What’s even more impressive is that he only turns 21 next month.
It is also worth remembering he has played just three senior matches in the midfield role, although he did progress through the age groups as a midfielder.
His versatility means he is as impressive at left-back as he is in midfield. Guardiola began his post-Newcastle press conference by praising former City star James Milner after he surpassed the record for the most Premier League appearances of all time. 203 of those matches came for the Blues and while it is far too early to say whether O’Reilly will enjoy similar longevity, his recent form makes the prospect of replacing Bernardo seem a little less daunting than it once did.
O’Reilly will only get better the more matches he plays. Guardiola knows he has a real player on his hands.
