Nico O’Reilly and young players needs to be ‘mentally stable’ to succeed warns Pep Guardiola

Manchester City’s rising talents and those of similar prospects within the game need to ensure they are ‘mentally stable’, according to manager Pep Guardiola.

The Catalan coach has developed a reputation for nurturing young players into world-class professionals, but has often emphasised that mentality and emotional control are just as vital as technical ability. Guardiola’s comments arrive at a time when O’Reilly is receiving growing recognition across Europe following a nomination for the prestigious 2025 Golden Boy award.

O’Reilly’s progress has been one of the most notable success stories from City’s youth system in recent years. The 20-year-old made his senior debut in the 2024 Community Shield triumph over Manchester United and has since become a regular part of the first-team squad.

Known for his intelligence, versatility, and composure, Nico O’Reilly has played both in midfield and defence, predominantly operating from the left-back role in the first-team set-up, embodying the tactical flexibility Pep Guardiola demands from his players.

This season has seen him continue that upward trajectory, balancing domestic duties with his first senior England call-up under Thomas Tuchel – another major milestone in his development. His maturity and focus have drawn praise from Guardiola and Manchester City’s staff, particularly amid increasing media attention and external recognition.

Speaking this week, Guardiola was quizzed on his reaction to the news that O’Reilly has become Manchester City’s only nominee in the top-25 list for the 2025 Golden Boy award.

“The games he’s played, he played at a really high level,” Guardiola insisted. “But always young players have to be attentive and careful about the compliments and recognition in awards because being stable mentally is the most important thing today in modern football.”

The Manchester City manager continued, “What we would like with the young players is they can make a career for 10, 15 years, and it’s not possible when your mind is up and down, up and down – you have to stable.

“But Nico I think is a really, really stable guy, and it’s really, really important – especially going to the [England] national team for the first time with Thomas [Tuchel], being there already at an early age is massively important for him.”

Pep Guardiola’s comments reflect his long-standing belief that young footballers must learn to handle both success and setbacks with emotional balance, while City’s environment has been carefully constructed to prepare players like O’Reilly for the pressures of elite-level football.

As O’Reilly continues to gain experience in both domestic and international football, Guardiola and his staff are expected to manage his development closely, ensuring he maintains the consistency and maturity required to cement a lasting role at the Etihad Stadium.

With his new long-term contract secured earlier this month and his Golden Boy nomination adding to an already impressive year, the challenge for O’Reilly now will be to maintain the same mental strength that has earned him Pep Guardiola’s trust, and prove he can thrive as a key figure for both City and England in the years ahead.