33 | Nico O'Reilly - 2025/26

[King Jay]

Reason we lost this tie .

 

[pbueno16]

Reason we lost this tie .

Responsibility lies with the guy who decided to play Nico as a left back when he's been brilliant as an 8.

 

[Chak19]

Don't blame him at all, anyone who's been paying attention knows that he can't defend to save his life as a LB, he's been superb in midfield for over a month so of course the genius decides to put him at LB for the big CL game and bench RAN who's done well there.

 

[WallyA]

He didnt play well, and has clearly been struggling as of late for sure.

But Pep has to stop flip flopping him LB and CM, im sure tactically it makes sense in his brain, but for a young player with little experience, changing his position so frequently is way too difficult mentally to handle perfectly well.

It should be done as a backup option, or against lesser opposition, not Real Madrid.

 

[shemnel]

Oh the 2 chances he had.....oh Nico..... those 2 chances

 

[denTTony]

Been poor at FB the last few times he has played there, wide players going past him too easily, needs to stay in midfield now

 

[Tyg3r]

Valverde won all duels. ALL. Can't be so soft.

 

[bluemoonste]

Improved lately but had a shitter tonight albeit against a class player

 

[bg1968]

Expecting a lot from a nineteen year old kid , has been superb recently but was badly exposed tonight against a world class right winger and was surprised Guehi with his experience didnt help him , Pep hung O'Reilly out to dry tonight, but he is a good footballer and will learn from the Real game , a proper left back doesnt allow that first goal , Ait Nouri would have never have been caught out like that

 

[ashleycaulcott1]

Was at fault for alot and then missed two great chances. Unfortunately at this level unforgivable. Unfortunately its easy to get found out. Had a terrific season though.

 

[jordtheblue]

Hell of a player. Wherever he plays, feels like he needs consistency in that role to show his true potential.

Worst performance in a city shirt tonight

He'll come again and be even stronger.

 

[Middedon]

Rotating him between CM and LB is not feasible at such a young age.

Pep is also playing him an insane amount, its way too much info and physical stress, too quickly.

I feel like if you’re big (like O’Reilly) or look old ( like Gvard), Pep doesn’t seem to ease you in like the other young players. It’s like he forgets they’re still really young.

 

[Damanino]

worst ever game he had probably. quite bad timing. hope he learns from it. while he had some good games in LB, he also had quite a few mediocre ones and Real in CL is probably not the time to try him in that position. had we got Sporting tonight, maybe yes.

 

[ninjamonkey]

Mistake for the first but one that anybody can make, bigger mistake from the keeper who should be bailing him out of that situation. Poor game overall, probably due a little rotation out right now but we have limited options. also asking a lot of him to be constantly switching positions, pick one to use him in and let him concentrate on nailing that position, so much more difficult to be constantly changing positions.

One small thing, he really needs to be using his frame much better, gets knocked off the ball way too easily for a kid his size, should be impossible for players half a foot smaller to get themselves infront of him.

 

[supercity88]

Was superb when we won there in the league phase, and played at LB that night. Poor game tonight though unfortunately, but a young lad who will learn from it.

 

[Sam69]

He was also at fault for Real Madrid's only goal there in December, was outmaneuvered by Rodrigo, and again tonight by Valverde.

He's not a good left-back, especially when the level of competition rises; he has defensive weaknesses, but he's a good midfielder who brings verticality and physicality.

 

[Master-Lotus]

Responsibility lies with the guy who decided to play Nico as a left back when he's been brilliant as an 8.

Not an excuse, 3 months ago when Madrid was better than now he defending great and scored a goal, as a left back.

 

[super_city_si]

Making waves in midfield and gets put left back. One of many bollocks dropped by pep.

Had a rough night. Not worried about him in the slightest. Unless pep plays him left back again next week.

 

[NQCitizen]

Easy to pick out Nico's errors but relative competence from Guehi or Donnarumma tonight or just a lack of excellence from Valverde would have seen them soon forgotten.

Seemed like Guehi was always miles away from Real's attacking play to me.

Both him and Semenyo looked a bit shell-shocked on their CL debuts.

 

[Haaland94]

Awful defensively, missed tap ins going forward, kept on losing the ball. He should have been hooked after their 1st. Disasterclass. Plays way too much.