Nico O’Reilly changed the game for Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-final against Bournemouth on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola saw his side struggle significantly in the opening 45 minutes at the Vitality Stadium, with Erling Haaland missing a penalty in the 13th minute before Evanilson put the Cherries ahead in the 21st minute.
It looked like being one of those days for Manchester City – although the introduction of Nico O’Reilly in place of Abdukodir Khusanov at the interval turned the FA Cup clash on its head in rapid fashion.
The England U20 international played a key role, grabbing an assist for Haaland within just four minutes of coming on, before setting Omar Marmoush up to make it 2-1 in the 63rd minute.
As the Manchester City No.75 shone against Bournemouth, fans on X (previously known as Twitter) were all saying the same thing.
Manchester City supporters urge Pep Guardiola to start Nico O’Reilly
Despite his obvious talent, the 20-year-old has only started six games this term.
O’Reilly – who is down as cover for Rodri next season – has been handed two starts in the Carabao Cup, three in the FA Cup and one in the FA Community Shield, but none in either the Premier League or the UEFA Champions League as Guardiola regularly overlooks him.
Now – however – fans have seen enough, and want the youngster to start more often.
One Manchester City supporter said O’Reilly should start “every single game” for the rest of the season after seeing him dismantle Bournemouth, posting: “Nico O’Reilly needs to start every single game bruh, preferably (in) midfield.”
Another wrote: “Been saying all season Nico O’Reilly should be playing more and he’s backed it up every time he has played. I honestly don’t understand why he ain’t played more.”
Elsewhere, a third Manchester City fan posted: “Nico O’Reilly should have started for us when Rodri got injured, said it for ages!! (He) has everything.”
Furthermore, a fourth supporter opined: “Play Nico O’Reilly for the rest of the season and we make top four comfortably.”
A fifth Manchester City fan then sternly wrote: “Nico O’Reilly should not be on the bench.”
Last but not least, a sixth Manchester City supporter seemed to misunderstand the meaning of “literally” – but still got the point across that O’Reilly looks far more mobile than both Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan.
They wrote: “Don’t understand why Pep isn’t starting Nico O’Reilly. Literally has more legs than Bernardo and Gundogan.”
What Pep Guardiola has previously said about Nico O’Reilly
To give Guardiola credit, his decision to move O’Reilly to the left, with Josko Gvardiol going centrally in place of Khusanov truly changed the game for Manchester City.
Based on what the Spaniard said about the City Football Academy graduate earlier this month – however – this impact won’t have come as much of a surprise to him.
Guardiola hailed O’Reilly, saying: “He’s a guy who is completely different to the other Man City academy players – all of them are so small, talented, but this guy has a big presence, playing in a position he’s never played in before (left-back).
“He’s so clever with the ball and he’s a guy who in the final third, in the pockets, incredible presence, physicality.”
O’Reilly assisted both goals against Bournemouth by showing fine decision making after charging into the final third down the left flank, so Guardiola clearly knows how to utilise his precocious talent effectively, when he does send him onto the pitch, that is.
