A Manchester City youngster has been key in City's FA Cup run and deserves to start today
As Manchester City have progressed in the FA Cup this season, the competition has been a coming-out party of sorts for Nico O'Reilly. He has played a starring role in City's run to the FA Cup final. Pep Guardiola's side will take on Crystal Palace at Wembley. O'Reilly has played a key role in City's run to the final, and he should start today based on his performances in the competition.
Nico O'Reilly has come of age for Manchester City during their FA Cup run.
Across Manchester City's FA Cup run, Nico O'Reilly has been a key player for Manchester City. He has scored 3 goals and added 2 assists in 5 FA Cup games. His form has been especially impressive as he's primarily played at left-back for Pep Guardiola's side. That isn't his preferred role, but he's taken to it like a duck to water. That's a credit to O'Reilly and his determination to make it as a Manchester City player. There's an argument to be made that Manchester City wouldn't be playing at Wembley today if it weren't for O'Reilly's performance against Bournemouth.
Nico O'Reilly came on at halftime of Manchester City's 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final win over Bournemouth. City were 1-nil down at halftime at the Vitality Stadium. They needed to lift in the second half. Nico O'Reilly replaced Abdukodir Khusanov at halftime of that game. He slotted in at left-back against Bournemouth. The young midfielder provided two assists for goals from Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush at the Vitality Stadium. His drive and overlapping runs from left-back were key in City's comeback victory. It was a special performance from a player who appears destined to have a long career at Manchester City. That performance was perhaps Nico O'Reilly's arrival as a player.
Nico O'Reilly should start today at Wembley.
Based on everything he has done during Manchester City's FA Cup run, Nico O'Reilly deserves to start today. His performances warrant that. Manchester City do look better with O'Reilly at left-back. That move allows Josko Gvardiol to play at centre-back. Gvardiol's pairing with Ruben Dias does look to be City's best centre-back pairing. They should start in the heart of City's defence today. If they do, O'Reilly should slot in at left-back.
Nico O'Reilly has been a key player in Manchester City's run to today's FA Cup final. Based on his form, the City youngster deserves to start today's match. The hope is that he does so he can show everyone what he is capable of on the biggest stage. He's got the talent and mental strength to shine on the Wembley stage. Now the hope is that he is given the opportunity to do so by Pep Guardiola.
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