Nico O’Reilly’s impact grows as Pep Guardiola highlights his attacking instinct

Manchester City’s push for the Champions League continued with a hard-fought win over Everton — and once again, 20-year-old Nico O'Reilly made the difference.

The homegrown star struck late in the game, breaking the deadlock in the 84th minute with a well-timed finish from a low cross by Matheus Nunes. Mateo Kovacic added a second shortly after to secure the 2-0 victory. It was O'Reilly’s second goal in two weeks, and another moment that showcased his growing influence in Pep Guardiola’s squad.

From Attacking Midfielder to Goalscoring Full-Back
Guardiola praised O'Reilly’s versatility, noting how his attacking instincts have translated well even when deployed out of position.

"He's an attacking midfielder," said Guardiola. "When you play him as a full-back and the game is quick with transitions, he can arrive.

When you go left-right, right-left with a lot of passes, you give him time to arrive there — and as an attacking midfielder, he's always there."

The manager referenced previous examples of O'Reilly’s impact, including two assists off the bench in the FA Cup quarter-final at Bournemouth and a goal and assist in the comeback win over Crystal Palace.

Guardiola also humorously pointed out that playing at left-back seems to bring goals for City players:
"It looks like in this team if you play left-back you score goals — Josko before and now him."
Tactical Flexibility and Mentality

While not a natural left-back, O'Reilly’s intelligence, timing, and willingness to contribute in key moments have made him a valuable asset. Guardiola applauded not just his performance but also the entire team’s movement in the second half.

"We are so grateful because he's not a left-back, but against a team like today — strong on set-pieces — his role was important."

The City boss credited the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne, and Savinho for raising the tempo and helping unlock Everton’s defence, but it was O'Reilly who stepped up with the decisive moment.

Nico O'Reilly – 2024 Season Stats (All Competitions)

Do you think Nico O'Reilly has what it takes to be a long-term part of Guardiola’s evolving City squad?