Credit: Imago

Oliver Walton

Thu 12 March 2026 10:18, UK

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Manchester City fans have slammed Pep Guardiola for his decision to start Nico O’Reilly at left back against Real Madrid rather than in central midfield.

Man City’s Champions League hopes suffered a damaging blow as Fede Valverde’s first-half hat-trick saw Real Madrid run out 3-0 winners in the first leg of their round of 16 tie on Wednesday.

The Uruguayan midfielder got the better of Gianluigi Donnarumma on three separate occasions, but the City keeper kept Vinicius Junior’s second-half penalty out to give City a glimmer of hope heading into the second leg.

Guardiola chose to start England international O’Reilly on the left of the back four ahead of Rayan Ait-Nouri, with Rodri and Bernardo Silva trusted to anchor the midfield together.

His surprise switch did not work, as Valverde ran riot down the right wing, and many fans do not want to see the 20-year-old play there in City’s next match against West Ham.

Man City fans slam Pep Guardiola for Nico O’Reilly left back decision

O’Reilly is a central midfielder by trade, but has made his name as a left back in City’s senior side over the last 12 months.

The 20-year-old has been trusted to start in midfield in the last few months by Guardiola, however, and has been in fine form as City chase success on numerous fronts.

He returned to left back at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, and was given a torrid time by Valverde as he got the better of him for both of Madrid’s first goals.

O’Reilly won just two of his seven ground duels on the night, while he failed to win any of his three attempted aerial duels and committed three fouls.

Taking to X to react to his performance and the decision to play him in the back four, one City fan said: “There was NO NEED to play O’Reilly at left back. He’s been class in midfield for ages, why’s he switching it up at the Bernabeu?”

While another added: “The last time Nico O’Reilly started at left back was in January against Wolves. He has played in midfield since then until tonight. Thank you Pep.”

And one fan said: “Nico O’Reilly (has) been superb and a monster in midfield, and the manager decides to play him left back when we’ve got a fit one on the bench who’s playing well. Just baffling.”

O’Reilly destined for midfield spot as City eye Destiny Udogie approach

Guardiola insisted following Wednesday’s game that he did not regret starting O’Reilly at left-back, as he has played there often for City despite being a midfielder by trade.

It certainly does seem as if the youngster will be moved back to the middle of the park in the long-term, however, after Football Insider revealed that City have discussed the potential signing of Udogie ahead of the summer window.

He has emerged as one of the standout left-backs in the Premier League at Tottenham over the last few years, and would provide strong competition to Ait-Nouri if he were to arrive at the Etihad this summer.

Given that City look to be targeting a left-back addition soon, their fans can seemingly rest assured that O’Reilly will be playing in midfield after the end of this season.