Nico O'Reilly's rapid rise to stardom could scale new heights when Manchester City clash with Arsenal in Sunday's Carabao Cup final at Wembley
Nico O'Reilly
Nico O'Reilly has enjoyed a rapid rise to stardom (Image: Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
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Nico O'Reilly has swapped the couch for Cup finals - and reckons he couldn't be more comfortable.
The Manchester City star's meteoric rise will scale greater heights this weekend, when he bids to help Pep Guardiola's side take down Arsenal and win the Carabao Cup.
O'Reilly grew up watching most of City's countless showpiece appearances at Wembley on the television at home. But in what feels like the blink of an eye, the 20-year-old now finds himself part of them, as he looks to help Pep Guardiola enhance his legacy in the blue half of Manchester.
O'Reilly was part of the City team which suffered a shock loss to Crystal Palace in last season's FA Cup final. And he admits another chance to make amends and land his first major trophy, is driving his motivation heading into Sunday's showdown.
O'Reilly said: "I'm really looking forward to it. Obviously, Wembley, is a special place. "I've played there a few times, but in the FA Cup we didn't win. So it'd be nice to go there and hopefully win.
"It'd be very special. It's a huge competition, all the English clubs have been involved. "We've faced some difficult opposition to get here, so to be in the final is special.
"Growing up watching City all my life, going to the games, seeing them playing these kind of competitions, winning finals and then wanting to be in that position.
"I watched the finals on TV - and now to be playing in them and be involved is a great achievement. I think as the games go on you get used to it a bit. You've just got to embrace it all and take it all in
"As the games go on you get more used to it, you get comfortable, more confident, and you find it OK."
O'Reilly was part of the Man City side beaten by Crystal Palace in last season's FA Cup final at Wembley
O'Reilly was part of the Man City side beaten by Crystal Palace in last season's FA Cup final at Wembley
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O'Reilly now finds himself a full blown England international, who could be heading to the World Cup this summer. But he has no intention of ever forgetting his Manchester roots - and has a tattoo to make sure he never will. The number 0161 inked on him is the area dialling code for the city.
And O'Reilly said: "That's where I grew up, Manchester, the area. Yes, it's me and how I became who I am today. 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'm still in touch with a lot of them. We still get along. I speak to them here and there."
O'Reilly knows beating Arsenal would put a serious marker down ahead of the final few weeks of the season. He admits the pressure is building, but reckons this is a position footballers like him should want to be in and relish.
Now a full England international, the Man City star is hoping to make it to the World Cup
Now a full England international, the Man City star is hoping to make it to the World Cup
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He added: "It's a big game. We know how good they are. Obviously, they're top of the league at the minute, so we know it's going to be difficult. They've been very good this season, but we look forward to big games.
"It'll be a tough game for them as well. I mean, we're just going there to win. That's the aim of it and we'll see what happens after that. The big games, they're the best games to be in and be part of.
"There's pressure now on everything. On us, on them, on other teams. It's a good situation to be in. For me, obviously last season we weren't in the situation that we are now, so it's new to me, but I'm really enjoying it."
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