Entering the 25/26 season you would have gotten long odds on Nico O’Reilly and Matheus Nunes becoming the first-choice full-backs for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Both players are midfielders by trade and have had to take on a different role to earn a consistent position in Pep Guardiola’s starting eleven. To their credit, both players have adapted to a new role and have become vitally important to their team.
Pep Guardiola had high praise for the pair ahead of Manchester City’s Premier League clash against Newcastle United. That praise is well-deserved for the pair who will likely have a key role to play at St. James Park.
Pep Guardiola had high praise for Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly and their ability to adapt to a new position.
To earn a consistent position in the starting eleven at Manchester City Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly have had to become key contributors in positions that aren’t their specialty. Matheus Nunes has become a consistent performer at right-back for his team. To his credit, he has become one of the most dependable right-backs in the Premier League this season. Nico O’Reilly showed great signs at left-back at during the back end of last season. He has taken his game to another level this season and is arguably the best left-back in the Premier League. Both players have shown an open mind and a willingness to be able to adapt to a new position to do what is required for their team. Their efforts came in for special praise from Pep Guardiola yesterday.
Having an open mind has helped two Manchester City players become key players for their team
Speaking ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Newcastle United, Pep Guardiola praised the efforts of Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly. Speaking on the pair and their exceptional performances, he said: “*The system needed it. In the training sessions, we realise they (Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly) have special attributes to play that position and convince them but mainly they have to convince themselves they can do it.*”
“*Some players are not open-minded, they say they don’t want to play different roles. When you play regularly, people get confidence and they can do it. For example, Nico Gonzalez is playing much better game by game by game because he’s playing a lot of games.*”
“*Matheus and Nico O’Reilly are good examples. Sometimes they prove it there. Zinchenko or Delph playing left-back. When I see them, I know midfield players can go in those small spaces.*”
“*Matheus may struggle a little there, but his physicality is much higher than Aleks or Fabian.*”
“*We don’t have many full backs, Rico is exceptional in the middle. It’s mainly the players about being open, if they start to say they can’t do it it’s not good.*”
The full-back positions have turned from a doubt to a strength for Pep Guardiola’s side.
At the beginning of this season, both of the full-back positions appeared to be areas of concern for Manchester City. The arrival of Rayan Ait-Nouri gave City a proper left-back to utilise. Ait-Nouri is more of a technical player, and doesn’t possess the athleticism or physical attributes that Nico O’Reilly does. Ait-Nouri will become a key player at City in time as his strengths as a player are vastly different from Nico O’Reilly. Unfortunately for Ait-Nouri he did go down injured and that allowed Nico O’Reilly to make the left-back position his own. It’s an opportunity that he seized with both hands. His power and athleticism allow him to contend with the pacey and powerful wingers that thrive in the Premier League. He is also a weapon going forward and Nico O’Reilly is vital to how Manchester City play.
Matheus Nunes has done the same at right-back for Pep Guardiola’s side. Right-back did look to be the biggest concern in the City squad. They didn’t sign a right-back in the summer and the opportunity was there for a player to make the role his own. Matheus Nunes has done just that. With his physical attributes, and having cut down on the errors that can plague his play, Matheus Nunes has become an important player for Manchester City in a role that he has had to learn over time. Like Nico O’Reilly, Matheus Nunes has become extremely important to his team.
Summary.
It is one thing for Pep Guardiola and his staff to identify that players such as Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly can thrive in different positions. It is a credit to Nunes and O’Reilly that they have thrived in roles that aren’t their specialty. Each player has shown a willingness to do what is required for their team and that trait can help lead Manchester City to success this season. Players who are willing to sacrifice their own game for the better of their team, or show an open mind and play in foreign positions are invaluable and help teams such as Pep Guardiola’s side become an even better side. Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly have done exactly that and City are better for it.