Boyhood Man City fan to Wembley winner – O’Reilly’s fairytale continues

Nico O’Reilly has a tattoo of the Manchester area code etched on his arm and the Englishman will be the pride of the city following his man-of-the-match showing in his side’s brilliant Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal on Sunday.

Academy product O’Reilly won the game for City with a pair of second-half headers into the goal in front of his club’s ecstatic supporters.

For a boyhood City fan to score twice at Wembley Stadium, this fairytale story has produced an unforgettable moment for the player, manager Pep Guardiola and supporters alike.

O’Reilly was drafted into the City team last season to aid the squad’s injury crisis in defence and has grabbed his opportunity – he now gets his hands on major silverware after delivering a performance that he will never forget.

“Unbelievable feeling,” O’Reilly told Sky Sports. “To win a final, to beat this team … we know how good they are. We need to build on it, it will give us good momentum. Buzzing with today.”

Cometh the hour, cometh the man – with the ‘0161’ phone code inked on his body, O’Reilly came calling on the big stage when City needed a hero to step up.

His first finish was the easiest goal he is likely to score in his career, stooping close to the goalline to head in after Kepa Arrizabalaga fumbled the ball into his path.

The second just four minutes later was a brilliantly-placed header from Matheus Nunes’ cross, effectively sealing victory for a jubilant Guardiola who performed a jig of delight on the touchline.

O’Reilly took the adulation of the City fans after his goals and it will be a double celebration this weekend after turning 21 on Saturday.

The only players younger than O’Reilly to score twice in the final of this competition were 20-year-olds Wayne Rooney for Manchester United in 2006 and Liverpool’s Ronnie Whelan back in 1982.

The Englishman took his goalscoring tally to eight for the season and said: “Bit of disbelief seeing all the fans cheering like that when I scored those goals. Really a good feeling and a great birthday weekend.

“My whole family came down today. They are all in the stand and I know they will be buzzing. I can’t wait to celebrate with them.”

This was O’Reilly’s second match-winning double of the season as well, after scoring twice in the 2-1 Premier League win over Newcastle a month ago.

Former England defender Matt Upson said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Nico O’Reilly is fast becoming one of the key members in this Manchester City side. He gets the goals, he gets the headlines. He is a player in top form.

O’Reilly’s timely goals came two days after being named in the England squad for the forthcoming friendlies and in front of a watching Thomas Tuchel.

He has looked equally adept whether Guardiola has picked him at left-back or in midfield but on the evidence of these impressive performance, he his playing himself into contention for this summer’s World Cup.

O’Reilly has earned two international caps so far and his performances will have put him in serious contention for a start when Three Lions boss Tuchel picks his team for the tournament opener against Croatia on 17 June.

Former City defender Micah Richards told Sky Sports: “Absolutely outstanding moment for Nico O’Reilly, coming from the academy.

“He was a midfielder, but he adapted and learned how to play left-back. It’s so good to see what it means to him.”

Guardiola added: “When playing in the pocket, [which is] his natural position, every cross he is there. He is strong in the aerial actions especially offensively, [but] defensively he has to improve.

“Maybe he was the signing of the season. When we started the season we had a long conversation with him. He started to play at left-back and impressed a lot.