Nico O’Reilly isn’t going to suit up for England in their upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain, but Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca sees it as a total win for his squad. Seriously, Maresca thinks this international snub is the perfect chance for O’Reilly to finally rest up and come back at 100% after the break.
What’s Been Up With Nico O’Reilly This Season?
Let’s be real, O’Reilly hasn’t been at his absolute best for City so far this 2026-27 season. It’s been a grind, no doubt. Back at the beginning of September, he picked up a nasty back injury during the warm-up before City’s 1-0 win over Coventry City, and that’s definitely been holding him back. Plus, the guy had a monster 2025-26 campaign, playing a staggering 53 matches across all competitions for City, which even landed him a spot in England’s 2026 World Cup squad. He rolled into this current season after his first full year of first-team football and a super busy summer. It was bound to catch up to him, right?
Niggling injuries and that insane schedule look like they finally did. O’Reilly’s only 21, so to have played a full season and then gone straight into a World Cup, that’s a lot for anyone. This international break is actually a rare opportunity for him, considering how packed City’s schedule always is and how crucial he is to Maresca’s side. He needs this time off, big time.
Maresca’s Master Plan for a Recharged O’Reilly
When the media pressed Maresca on Friday about Thomas Tuchel leaving O’Reilly out of the England squad, City’s gaffer was crystal clear. He believes this is exactly what O’Reilly needs. Maresca stated, “With Nico it’s quite easy. Since we started the season, between his back, if you remember before the Coventry game he’s had more problems unfortunately.”
He continued, “He’s not 100% but in the last game I really liked him and thought he played a very good game. This is what we need from Nico. We just need to keep him fit because we know how good he is and I have no doubt in future he’ll be in the international team again. It’s what he needs , to use the break to do the right things in terms of therapy and these kind of things to be 100% after the break.”
That last game Maresca talked about? It was City’s 3-2 win over RB Leipzig at the Red Bull Arena, where O’Reilly played his best game of the season. Talk about timing! City’s hoping this break from football will pay off big time, giving him that much-needed chance to recuperate. The coaching staff wants to see him use this break for therapy and all the right things, so when he comes back, he’s absolutely firing on all cylinders.
So, get ready City fans. The international break is on the horizon, and the hope is that O’Reilly will return completely refreshed and back to his best for Manchester City. We’re all looking forward to seeing him back on the pitch at 100%, tearing it up.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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