Thanks to his outstanding performances at the start of this season, this versatile player in the defensive and midfield areas has also been selected for England’s national team squad this month. At current Man City, converting midfielders into full-backs is no longer a novelty. However, during last Christmas, Guardiola’s new idea for this position still sparked heated discussions within the coaching staff. O’Reilly, a superstar from the youth academy, once scored a scorpion kick goal and a 40-yard chip in a single week. As the U18 captain who won consecutive youth league titles, he is known for his excellent creativity and improvisation. He even played as a solo striker for a full season.
But when this tall young man began training with the first team (as early as his U16 days), Guardiola keenly noticed his growing strength advantage, especially his outstanding height. For the Man City manager, who is used to developing shorter talents like Oscar Bobb and Rico Lewis, O’Reilly undoubtedly represents a brand-new possibility.
And Man City youth prospect O’Reilly made a crucial choice between Manchester’s two giants in his childhood—eventually, the 8-year-old rejected Man Utd’s offer with aspirations for the Blue Moon.
The local rising star recalled that all top clubs in the northwest had offered him a spot back then. After turning down Liverpool and Everton one after another, he finally chose the Blue Moon among the two Manchester giants. “The training quality at City was clearly superior,” O’Reilly revealed the key factor behind his choice, adding that his mother and sister are also die-hard Blue Moon fans.
Talking about his journey to the first team, the young forward said: “The adaptation process was challenging, but now I’m gradually finding my rhythm. I’ve been looking for chances in the box since I was a kid—scoring goals is my instinct. As long as
I get trust, I will do my best to seize the opportunity.” Analyzing his position in Guardiola’s system, he said: “The tactics give me the freedom to make forward runs and cut inside. As long as I maintain the balance between attack and defense and gain the manager’s approval, I can definitely pose a threat in the wide areas.”
What truly brought O’Reilly into the public eye was the FA Cup quarter-final against Bournemouth at the end of March. Coming on as a substitute in midfield, he successfully turned the tide of the game. When the final whistle blew, the scene of him being surrounded by Guardiola and teammates to receive fans’ cheers has become a defining moment in his career.
“I was totally lost for words at that time, but the feeling of being surrounded by songs and cheers was incredibly wonderful. As a kid who grew up in Manchester, being able to play for my beloved club and receive such love means more than anything.”
