Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola heaped praise on Nico O’Reilly following the young forward’s brace that led to a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United this past weekend.
O’Reilly has emerged as one of the standout performers for the Blues this season, contributing significantly to a revamped Manchester City squad that is aiming for an unprecedented quadruple during this transitional phase under director of football Hugo Viana.
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Guardiola has played down suggestions of overtaking Premier League leaders Arsenal, who have recently struggled for form but bounced back with a convincing 4-1 win against Tottenham in the north London derby on Sunday evening.
Nevertheless, Manchester City is riding a wave of momentum, having won their last five matches across all competitions, and sit just five points behind the Gunners in the Premier League table, with a game in hand.
O’Reilly was crucial in keeping Manchester City competitive, scoring a stunning brace in the first half against Newcastle to ensure his boyhood club remains in close pursuit of Arsenal.
Discussing O’Reilly’s impressive win rate since joining the first team in the 2024-25 season, Guardiola remarked, “No, I don’t really pay attention to those stats,” during his post-match press conference on Sunday night.
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“If I select him, it’s because he contributes significantly to our gameplay, not because of statistics. If we’re winning because of Nico, there’s no need to focus on Newcastle. I believe in effort, training well, and recovering properly.”
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma also played a vital role, making several key saves to thwart Newcastle’s attacks, particularly from players like Anthony Gordon.
When asked about Donnarumma’s shot-stopping abilities, Guardiola responded: “We’ve always had remarkable goalkeepers such as Ederson, James Trafford, and Stefan Ortega, who have provided us crucial saves for our Premier League title.”
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“We’ve had outstanding keepers, and James has been incredible in his FA Cup and Carabao Cup outings. However, Gigio is a unique talent; his size and skill are truly impressive.”
Following Sunday’s victory, Guardiola has given his players three days off. After a midweek break, Manchester City will be well-prepared for their upcoming Premier League clash against Leeds United at Elland Road.