Manchester City

Freddie Pye
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

When the ongoing campaign got going last August, Nico O'Reilly was a name already on the lips of many Manchester City supporters. At just 19-years-old, the latest wonderkid to come off the production line of football's next big names was being tipped as a Rodri back-up.

Pre-season saw O'Reilly operating in a double-pivot alongside a whole host of team-mates but largely Mateo Kovacic, with the ultimate reward for his encouraging showings and a desire to learn being a start in the FA Community Shield win over Manchester United.

Fast forward nine months and we're seeing that same Manchester lad viewed predominantly as a left-back. Should we be surprised? Usually, yes. But after all, this is Pep Guardiola - a man who far too often is so far ahead of us mere mortals in a football intelligence sense - and even the wildest of positional alterations for O'Reilly such as a left-back switch should not have been ruled out.

But take a step back and it all makes too much sense; technically gifted, an outstanding eye for a forward pass, power in driving forward with the ball, physically domineering for defensive and offensive set-pieces, positional intelligence, the know-how as to when to charge forward into spaces created by attacking team-mates, and, perhaps crucially, a willingness to learn and a passion to succeed.

Perhaps the only downside to this O'Reilly surge to the fore is that there are only a handful of games remaining this season, with a summer of major transition expected in Manchester City's first-team squad.

The likes of Juventus' Andrea Cambiaso and Tottenham's Destiny Udogie have already been linked with Manchester City transfer interest, both of whom are excellent operators in the left-back role. And with midfield expected to be addressed too, could we really see O'Reilly fall back down to his role of a developmental talent for the future?

There is a clear case all of sudden for City to switch attentions elsewhere, perhaps investing in the right-back berth instead, and allow for one of their own to flourish under Pep Guardiola and become the ultimate versatile choice for the Catalan in defence, midfield, and attack.

With Rico Lewis, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, Josko Gvardiol, James McAtee, Oscar Bobb and Savinho added to experienced yet youthful stars such as Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, and Nico Gonzalez, the introduction of O'Reilly to this list further emphasises the mere fact that Manchester City's era of domination may not be ending any time soon!

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The race for the top five is ferocious and after seeing how Manchester City played against Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday, I just think Aston Villa will be too dynamic for them.

It depends on what team City boss Pep Guardiola picks, of course, but although they eventually beat Everton, they were very flat for most of the game.

I really don't understand why Pep keeps playing Bernardo Silva wide on the right, for example, and it would make much more sense if he used Jeremy Doku, along with Savinho, as his two wide men.

City's physicality in midfield has been an issue for them all season and I don't think Nico Gonzalez has made much difference there. He doesn't have anything like the same presence as Rodri, or Declan Rice at Arsenal, for example.

So, City could have problems coping with Villa, who cut straight through them at times when they beat them at Villa Park in December.

I thought Villa might be tired after their Champions League tie with Paris St-Germain last week, because they put so much into it, but they certainly didn't lack any intensity in their brilliant win over Newcastle and we know how much energy they have got in their midfield.

Villa have lost their past 14 visits to Etihad Stadium in the league, but that run will end on Tuesday.

City will be far more dangerous if Doku and Savinho both play to give them the legs they have been lacking, but it looks like Guardiola is sticking with the old guard so I am going for a Villa victory this time.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Make your own prediction here, external

Manchester City are interested in 25-year-old Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who has a release clause worth £64.3m (75m euros). (Correio da Manha - in Portuguese), external

Nico O'Reilly will sign a new contract with City after Chelsea showed an interest in the midfielder. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Midfielder Bernardo Silva is set to be the subject of interest from Barcelona once again this summer. (GiveMeSport), external

Manchester City and Tottenham are set to battle it out for 24-year-old Lazio centre-back Mario Gila, but the Premier League duo will face competition from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich for the Spaniard. (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Manchester-born Nico O'Reilly has seized his chance this season given the injury absences of Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji and John Stones.

He has been deployed as an inverted left-back, often drifting into midfield, and his forward runs have contributed to Manchester City's attacking threat.

Pep Guardiola's experiment has been working, but he still considers the 20-year-old to be an attacking midfielder despite his strong performances at full-back.

"The impact has been good," said Guardiola. "We now have one game a week, so Nico has to recover and he has to see if he can play every three day like Bernardo [Silva] has proven, or Kevin [de Bruyne] and Ruben [Dias] have proven.

"I don't know if these young players are able to play three games a week during a month. But it's a reality already.

"I admire a lot that he is playing in a position he has never played before. He is learning. Of course, he has to improve, but with the ball it's good."

O'Reilly scored City's crucial first goal against Everton on Saturday and Guardiola praised the 20 year old for his impact.

"His position is - I'm pretty sure - attacking midfielder and every cross he is on the penalty spot," Guardiola said. "That's what I like as an attacking midfielder.

"I'm pretty sure [he is a midfielder], otherwise he doesn't score the goals like he has scored so far. He likes to be there, he has a good shot and quality in small spaces and it's helping us."

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Manchester City have won their past 14 Premier League home games against Aston Villa, scoring at least twice in each of the past 13. Their most recent defeat was in April 2007.

Across those 14 consecutive victories, City have trailed in just two games, going 1-0 down in May 2010 and 2-0 down in May 2022 before winning 3-1 and 3-2 respectively.

In Premier League history, only City themselves against Newcastle (an ongoing run of 16) have won more consecutive home games against an opponent.

But Villa have won two of their past three league games against City, as many as in their previous 23, and they are looking to complete their first league double over City since 1962-63.

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Pep Guardiola has praised Josko Gvardiol's displays across Manchester City's backline this season, saying he is thankful to have such a versatile player in his squad,.

The Croatia international became the second-most expensive defender in history when he signed from RB Leipzig in August 2023 for £77m and has mainly been deployed at full-back.

However, on Saturday at Everton, he lined up alongside Ruben Dias in central defence and Guardiola was asked where he says the 23 year old's best position.

"I like him, especially with the build-up with the left as he is so fast going in behind," Guardiola said.

"Ruben and him are so generous. They talk a lot, especially Ruben, and I think they are doing a really, really good partnership, so he is an option.

"We will see if we buy, I don't think we are going to. Clubs need central defenders and we're going to have a lot, as we bought two young [ones] in January, but we will see.

"To have a player who can play there and can play at left-back is so important for us."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Everton and Man City.

Here are some of your comments:

Everton fans

Alex: Part of me doesn't mind that we lost that match. Credit where credit is due, we were the better team for most of it, and showed great signs of where we could be next season. Let's remember the money Man City has and the value of their players. We held our own for most of the match. Sad to see the brilliant James Tarkowski injured though. Really good performance.

David: A disappointing result after such an improvement in recent weeks. However, this will give David Moyes a clearer picture of the major deficiencies we have in the squad when a key player such as Tarkowski goes off injured and we fall away in the final 20 minutes.

Gavin: Perfect chance to try out Jarrod Branthwaite and Jake O'Brien in central defencenothing to lose really, but Michael Keane got the nod when Tarkowski got injured and was once again a big disappointment.

Man City

Colin: Other than two set-pieces it is probably the most controlled we have been at the back. However, going forward needs to be much quicker as highlighted after Jeremy Doku came on. He injected pace and directness which created opportunities.

Gene: Nico O'Reilly may be an attacking midfielder, but he defends quite well. He's big, quick and doesn't get pushed around. It's going to be sad to see Kevin de Bruyne leave though as there's no one on this team with his vision and knack for finding the open man. They're still stagnant moving forward and there's not enough aggression. Overall the play is better, which hopefully continues towards the Champions League.

Andrew: Trust the academy. James McAtee and Nico O'Reilly are nailed on as part of the senior squad. Plenty more behind plus get a couple back; James Trafford has to be top of the list in summer as Ederson and Stefan Ortega will not improve from here. Then your 'rebuild' is more than half done. Vitor Reis and Claudio Echeverri still settling. All is good!

Real Madrid are keen on Spain midfielder Rodri, but any move is unlikely as the 28-year-old is settled at Manchester City and has no plans to leave the club. (Sport Bild - in German), external

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola talking to BBC Match of the Day: "It was massively important. We have three games at home and two away. They are tough games. Stefan Ortega saved the balls that he needed too and the players made a step up in the second half. We were more incisive. I'm really pleased with the game we made in the second half. The players performed really well, all of them."

On Nico O'Reilly: "He's not really a left-back. I would say all of our left-backs score, Josko Gvardiol before and now Nico. He is an attacking midfielder. We have passes, passes and passes and then we can arrive brilliantly into that position. He's arrived from the academy and is helping us a lot. I am more than grateful. He is taking his opportunity."

On whether O'Reilly has grown in confidence and mentally in the past few months: "For sure. He can improve, he is young. But when you play every day and you're playing it is because you can do it. Our fans love him because they love academy players. He is another player that can help us."

On whether the players are motivated: "We are fourth now. This week is massively important. Goodison Park, at home to Villa and then the FA Cup semi-final. To start winning the game and especially how we played in the second half is really important."

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In what was his 199th Premier League game, Mateo Kovacic has scored in back-to-back appearances in the competition for the first time. He's now scored more goals in 2024-25 (6) than he had in all six of his previous campaigns in the competition combined (5).

Were you at the game or following elsewhere?

Have your say on Everton's performance

What did you make of Man City's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Five matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Brentford v Brighton

• Crystal Palace v Bournemouth

• Everton v Manchester City

• West Ham v Southampton

• Aston Villa v Newcastle (17:30 BST)

All kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

I am at this game for BBC Radio 5 Live and am looking forward to it. It is so hard to call, because of where both teams are at.

Everton will work hard, of course, but they are also very capable of winning this if they are as "in your face" as they can be, and upset City's rhythm.

If Pep Guardiola's side play like they did against Nottingham Forest a few weeks ago, and don't really get going, then they are going to get turned over.

On the other hand, City really caught fire after almost going 3-0 down against Palace last week. If they play like that, they will win - but you are never quite sure what you are going to get from them in each half at the moment, let alone game to game.

So, it is hard to know how the game will pan out. Everton will not be overly expansive or bothered about possession and will pick their moments when they throw Abdoulaye Doucoure forward.

They will be direct and Beto will run in behind, and I definitely see them scoring, but I am still going with City to edge this, somehow. They have to, really, because they are under pressure to make the top five.

I held the record for the fastest goal scored at Goodison in its 133-year history until Doucoure scored after 10.18 seconds against Leicester in February, beating my effort for Blackburn after 12.94 seconds in 1995.

That's still the fastest goal scored there by an away player, though, so hopefully no-one manages a quicker one before the end of the season - especially when I am there to talk about it as co-commentator.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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I thought it was worth asking Pep Guardiola about his thoughts on this week's Champions League games given Manchester City are usually involved in the quarter-final stage but this season, they have been out since the play-off round in February.

He said he watched the matches, which motivated him to get back into the competition next season.

But I suspect he was keeping an eye on last night's Europa League fare as well.

City are heading into a crucial week, with a trip to Everton and home game with Aston Villa pivotal to their chances of a top-five finish, followed by an FA Cup semi-final with Nottingham Forest at Wembley.

It means they have a lot to play for, unlike Tottenham and Manchester United, who were in action last night.

"It is not a bad thing to fight to qualify for the Champions League," he said.

"We could be in a much lower position in the Premier League. We could be 11th, 12, 13, 14. No doubts about that."

United are 14th and Tottenham 15th.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Everton at Goodison park (15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Goalkeeper Ederson is "not ready for tomorrow" after being substituted in last weekend's comeback win over Crystal Palace, while Erling Haaland remains sidelined with an ankle injury with no date for his return.

• Manuel Akanji and Phil Foden will be assessed on Friday: "They came back. Phil just on Thursday, and today with his second session since Old Trafford. And Manu, he made two or three sessions with us and I see him moving really well."

• On John Stones and Nathan Ake's fitness: "Not yet [back]. They're getting better, but not yet."

• On City's position in the Premier League: "I don't think it's a bad thing to be fighting to qualify for the Champions League. You could be in a much lower position in the Premier League if you had done fewer good things than we have done in these four, five months. It's in our hands and, of course, Goodison Park and Villa is massively important. We don't have much time."

• He paid tribute to Goodison Park on City's final visit: "Goodison Park is so special, like all traditional stadiums in England. When you go to stadiums like these, you feel the atmosphere is special. But, clubs grow and I'm pretty sure their new stadium will be nicer in terms of being maybe more comfortable."

• On David Moyes' impact at the Toffees: "Sean Dyche did an incredible job. I don't forget how Sean took over in that moment, a difficult position, and avoided relegation. But the impact of David, for his experience, an incredible job - at West Ham too, all his career. He's done an unbelievable job in terms of results - and the patterns are so clear, so difficult to handle."

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary of Everton v Man City at 15:00 on Saturday

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news