Nico O’Reilly fondly recalls Manchester City senior debut against Manchester United | OneFootball

Manchester City star Nico O’Reilly has reflected on his emergence as a key player for the first-team and what it’s like to be playing week-in, week-out for the club he has grown up supporting.

The 19-year-old has been one of City’s best players in the second half of the campaign and has made a strong impression in the senior squad since his introduction in the early stages of the FA Cup campaign, where City will face Crystal Palace in the final in two weeks.

O’Reilly has been instrumental at left-back – despite primarily being a midfielder – amidst Manchester City’s ongoing personnel issues in defence and has cropped up with a number of crucial goals and match-winning performances on the left side of the pitch.

After starring in City’s quarter-final comeback win over Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarter-final, O’Reilly broke the deadlock in a vital 2-0 win against Everton at Goodison Park and has been one of the first names on the teamsheet for Guardiola in recent months.

“I’m very happy to be here with players I’ve looked up to all my life. I’m buzzing to be with these players. I knuckle down in training, try help as much as I can. It’s incredible. It just feels amazing to be part of this,” the teenager said in an interview for the April edition of the City Magazine.

“I’ve supported Manchester City all my life, a load of favourite games given our success, but beating United 6-1 at Old Trafford has to be my favourite along with Sergio (Aguero)’s winner against QPR in 2012.

“I was only seven and watched it at my cousin’s house, but remember it as if it were yesterday – as most can! My first City idols were Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure, Vincent Kompany and Kevin De Bruyne – players of that stature who I loved to watch and – in Kevin’s case – have been lucky enough to get to play alongside.

“To make my Manchester City debut against United at Wembley was pretty incredible, even better to win! I’ve a few family members who are Reds so it was a good opportunity to wind them up afterwards! It was a great day and something I’ll never forget.”

O’Reilly has been an indispensable fixture in Manchester City’s first-team of late and with the academy graduate still in his teens, Guardiola has a future star on his hands for the years to come.

With Ballon d’Or holder Rodri back in full first-team training after a lengthy ACL lay-off, the prospect of witnessing O’Reilly alongside the Spaniard in midfield is a scary one of the rest of the Premier League ahead of the new campaign.

Guardiola has been delighted with O’Reilly impact and versatility is by far and away the 54-year-old’s favourite trait in his players and standing 6’5 with a physical dominance that has lacked elsewhere in the squad for much of the campaign, the academy hero has been this season’s biggest success story for the Champions League chasing Blues.