One of the highlights from Manchester City’s US were their young players.
Pep Guardiola hailed the likes of Oscar Bobb and Rico Lewis amongst many for their performances in the United States as well.
For established first-team players at City and other clubs, pre-season is perhaps only viewed by them as a way to get up to speed in terms of their rhythm and fitness ahead of the new campaign.
However, the same rule does not apply to fringe and young players in the squad.
A manager like Pep Guardiola, for instance, could gauge several discoveries about a player just through how they approach pre-season.
From their desire to perform at their best, their work ethic in training, their performances on the pitch and their keenness to win every possible game.
Big names like Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish and Ederson Moraes to mention a few are expected to drive the standards for the rest in pre-season.
Whether young players embrace such high standards or shy away from them could have been telling for the £378,846-a-week manager in pre-season.
One of the youngsters who seemed determined to make an impression out with the senior team was Nico O’Reilly.
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Nico O’Reilly could emerge as the next big thing for Man City next season
Despite Manchester City’s recent defeat to Barcelona, Pep Guardiola claimed O’Reilly can play in the first-team for his side.
Journalist Joe Bray revealed that Guardiola confirmed that the 19-year-old will be in the senior side next season as well.
The Catalan tactician evidently rates the youngster highly, who much like Rico Lewis in his debut season during City’s treble-winning campaign can emerge as the English giants’ breakout star.
Despite being an attacking midfielder by trade, Pep Guardiola’s utilisation of him as a defensive midfielder is an insight that he could deputise for Rodri when he is unavailable or rested next season.
Guardiola also recently stated via BeanymanSports that O’Reilly is suited to playing in a double pivot as a midfielder who can both attack and defend, emphasising that unlike the archetypal youngster at City — he is tall and strong.
As exemplified by his goal against Barcelona, the Englishman has the movement and eye for the back of the net as he expertly ghosted behind the opposition defence and picked his spot.
Since Ilkay Gundogan, Manchester City are yet to find a goalscoring central midfielder.
O’Reilly seems to have the potential to emerge as the German’s successor in the role, having had his attempt from close range saved against Celtic as well as he seems to have a knack of being at the right place and at the right time in the final third.
Going back to Pep Guardiola’s emphasis on the talented midfielder’s stature and strength, these features might prompt the Manchester City boss to give him chances in the starting XI.
O’Reilly seems ready for the men’s game, as demonstrated by how well he competed in duels against experienced players in pre-season; a quality that is key in not just holding midfielders but a number eight as well.
Playing alongside a master of his position like Rodri, the exciting technician could also be given the license to roam forward and wreak havoc — making him a dangerous prospect due to his natural goalscoring instincts, ability to weave past players due to his tidy dribbling and textbook technique.
It will be interesting to see how many minutes O’Reilly gets but based on his performances in pre-season, there is every reason to back him to have a breakthrough campaign.
