Nico O’Reilly: Man City player on breaking into first team and Pep Guardiola

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Nico O’Reilly: Man City player on breaking into first team and Pep Guardiola

City – and O’Reilly – have grown accustomed to winning but the team have fallen short of the high standards they have set in recent seasons.

They have been deposed at the top of the Premier League by new champions Liverpool, relinquishing their four-year grip on the trophy, while being knocked out of the Champions League at the play-off stage.

Last Saturday’s shock goalless draw against rock-bottom Southampton leaves them in a fight to finish in the top five with two games remaining and, in turn, qualifying for the Champions League next season.

“I have found that the players have been positive for the majority of it,” said O’Reilly.

“These are players that have won everything and they are still trying to improve so we can get these wins. I think it has helped my mindset and how to approach things.

“We have had a tough season, however there are positives to take out of it. We are just going to try and finish as well as we can now.”

O’Reilly says boss Guardiola “drives the intensity” at the club and “gets us all going”, telling the players to “go out there and enjoy it”.

At one stage in the campaign, City went on a wretched run of one win in 13 games but boss Guardiola told BBC Sport the upturn in results since “would be difficult to imagine” without O’Reilly’s contributions.

Victory on Saturday can provide some satisfaction to an otherwise disappointing campaign.

His standout performances have come in the competition, scoring in the 8-0 thrashing of Salford in the third round, netting twice against Plymouth and turning the game around against Bournemouth by creating both goals after appearing as a half-time substitute.

Now for O’Reilly, getting his hands on a first major trophy in his maiden season as a professional awaits.

“Personally, it would mean a lot for me to get some silverware,” he says.

“Obviously coming through the youth stages, you have got the FA Youth Cup, which is – I’d say – the biggest tournament in youth football. Everyone wants to play in that.

“Then to transition through to the first team, you have got the FA Cup, where a lot of youth players do get chances.

“It is an amazing tournament and it would be amazing to win it.”

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