When the story of the 2025-26 season is written for Manchester City, the rise of Nico O’Reilly will be one of the more prominent chapters. The young midfielder has risen to become an England international, a key player in Pep Guardiola’s side, and arguably the best left-back in the Premier League. Remarkably, besides at the back end of last season, Nico O’Reilly had barely played at left-back. His rise this season in a new role is a testament to both his technical and tactical ability. In a new interview with mancity.com, Nico O’Reilly has shared why he is so well-suited to the role he occupies in Pep Guardiola’s side. As this season reaches its final chapter, Nico O’Reilly could yet write another page or two to cap off his remarkable rise this season.
Nico O’Reilly has explained why he is so well-suited to the complicated role he plays for Manchester City.
Speaking with the official website of Manchester City, Nico O’Reilly has explained why the strengths of his game are so well-suited to the left-back role he is tasked with playing by Pep Guardiola. The young England international also added that he is enjoying every moment of his break out season. He explained: “I’m enjoying every moment of [this season]. When I’m on the pitch, I try to do my best and help the team where I can. Whether it’s defending or scoring a goal, playing in the middle – whatever I can do to help the team, I’m happy with that. I like to try and play with freedom, show my ability and show what I can do.”
“All my life, I’ve been a midfielder and have played in the middle, so I think playing as an inverted left-back has helped because I’ve been used to being in those positions.”
Pep Guardiola gave Nico O’Reilly the keys to unlock his prodigious talent.
A specialty of Pep Guardiola as a manager is his ability to find roles for his players to perform at their peak. His use of John Stones as a centre-back moving into midfield in the 2022-23 season is a prime example of this. The way Nico O’Reilly has been used this season by Pep Guardiola is another classic example of this. However, for Pep Guardiola’s idea for the left-back role to come to life, it needs a player to take to the role extremely well. Nico O’Reilly has done exactly this throughout this season.
Nico O’Reilly has thrived as an attacking left-back. At times, he resembles another striker for Manchester City with the positions he takes up in the final third. Nico O’Reilly’s upbringing as an attacking midfielder helps him in this regard. No better example of this occurred during Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Arsenal in this season’s Carabao Cup final. Mikel Arteta’s side couldn’t cope with Nico O’Reilly’s forward runs, and he bagged a brace to lead his team to silverware. That performance is the prime example of what Nico O’Reilly spoke of. However, there are countless more examples of Nico O’Reilly being a threat going forward and helping in midfield this season from left-back to draw upon.
Nico O’Reilly has thrived in a complicated role for Manchester City this season. He has shared exactly why in an interview with mancity.com. The final chapter of the 2025-26 season is about to be written. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see O’Reilly add another big performance or two along the way based on how well he’s played this season.
