Gvardiol ´super proud´ of O´Reilly progression at Man City

Josko Gvardiol said he is “super proud” of Nico O’Reilly after his Manchester City team-mate scored against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Pep Guardiola’s side went a goal down at the Santiago Bernabeu, but O’Reilly equalised for City before Erling Haaland won the match from the penalty spot.

Aged 20 years and 264 days, O’Reilly is the second-youngest player to score for an English club against Madrid in the Champions League, behind only Alan Smith for Leeds United in March 2001 (20 years and 129 days).

O’Reilly has registered four direct goal involvements in the Premier League this season (one goal, three assists) in addition to his goal and assist in Europe’s top competition.

Gvardiol displayed his joy in seeing the youngster continue to rise to the occasion in big moments for City.

“I’m super proud of him,” said Gvardiol.

A moment Nico will never forget pic.twitter.com/5Fh4OIUiC4

— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 11, 2025

“I’m really happy for him as well. He’s young, but to be honest with you, two days ago I was thinking that when I see him playing next to me, I feel like he’s 30. I think he has a quality.

“There’s a reason he’s in the starting XI. He just needs to keep going. He has the full support from me, from everyone in the team, from the manager, staff as well, from the club. He can do such big things in his career.”

City’s victory in the Spanish capital was their fourth consecutive win in all competitions, leaving them second in the Premier League and fourth in the Champions League.

They have lost key players from their previous title-winning sides, such as Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker, but Gvardiol believes City are still strong enough to compete for major trophies.

“I think so,” he said when asked if City can continue their winning run.

“I think we’re doing good. Like I say every time, we go game by game, not to look too far ahead.

“And we have a good team, obviously. We have amazing players on the bench who are more than ready to come in. So I think we have a good team and we want a fight.”