Nico González Shines at Man City as ‘Mini-Rodri’ Tag from Pep Guardiola Finally Comes to Life
Nico Gonzalez’s transition to Manchester City was certainly eventful. After joining the team mid-season, there was an initial buzz, with some prematurely suggesting he was the immediate solution to fill Rodri’s shoes.
A Big Move That Didn’t Start Smoothly
However, despite this fanfare, manager Pep Guardiola largely overlooked him during the crucial final phase of the season. While this might have sparked concerns that Gonzalez could turn out to be a costly disappointment, these worries have since subsided.
He has successfully re-established himself in the team, providing stability in midfield, and contributing significantly to City’s improved form, which has seen them emerge as Arsenal’s primary competitor in the Premier League title chase.
Even though there’s already a player named Nico O’Reilly in the team, the midfielder known simply as Nico was initially perceived as a somewhat extravagant addition when he was acquired from Porto for a substantial £50 million ($65m) right before the transfer window closed on February 3rd.
As the offspring of Deportivo La Coruna icon Fran and a product of Barcelona’s youth system, Gonzalez was brought in as an obvious replacement for Rodri, who was still recovering from a serious knee injury.
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The City Manager Guardiola openly admitted this, even calling the new arrival ‘Mini-Rodri’ after a standout Premier League debut against Newcastle.
In that game, Gonzalez dominated the midfield and provided the foundation for another January signing, Omar Marmoush, to excel in a dominant 4-0 victory.
While his journey hasn’t been without its challenges, Gonzalez has matured over the past few months into a crucial component of City’s squad as they prepare to face Newcastle once more on Saturday.
Despite Gonzalez’s background in Barcelona’s renowned youth system and the influence of his father, a highly skilled Spanish player, Guardiola seemed most impressed by Gonzalez’s strength and physicality during their initial observations.
Following Gonzalez’s notable first game against Newcastle, Guardiola highlighted his impact in winning contested balls, comparing him favorably to Rodri, a key player known for his dominance in midfield.
While acknowledging Rodri’s superior abilities, Guardiola expressed optimism that Gonzalez’s physical presence would be beneficial for the team.
Early Promise, Then a Sudden Drop-Off
Guardiola subsequently included Gonzalez in the starting lineup for City’s next five league matches.
However, Gonzalez struggled to replicate his initial success, and the team faced defeats against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, making their pursuit of a top-five finish and Champions League qualification more challenging.
Despite the intense competition and importance of key matches, the manager seemed to favor other players over Gonzalez.
He remained on the bench during the high-stakes derby against Manchester United and a crucial game against Aston Villa that significantly impacted their chances of a top-five finish. Ultimately, he only started in a small number of the final Premier League games.
Furthermore, Gonzalez saw very limited action during City’s FA Cup campaign, accumulating a minimal amount of playing time leading up to the final.
He barely featured, even when injuries affected other players in his position. This trend continued even at the Club World Cup, where his participation was minimal as a key player returned from absence.
This lack of opportunity fueled speculation that Gonzalez might consider an early departure.
However, those rumors appear unfounded, with sources suggesting he remained committed to the team.
Instead of losing Gonzalez, the club opted to reduce their overall squad size by letting other players go.
After beginning the season in the starting lineup for the initial two matches, Gonzalez found himself back on the sidelines at Brighton when Rodri recovered from another injury.
However, as the 29-year-old Rodri’s comeback from knee surgery continued to be hampered by recurring minor problems, Gonzalez was presented with another opportunity and he made the most of it.
He has now been a starter in nine of City’s most recent twelve games across all competitions and one could argue that, aside from Erling Haaland, he has been their most vital player over the past couple of months.
“It can be challenging to join a new team and adjust to a different style of play than what you’re used to,” Guardiola commented on Gonzalez recently.
“But we are very happy with his attitude and I am confident that he will continue to improve.”
Gonzalez is not the first player to require a period of adjustment when learning Guardiola’s strategies.
Players like Jack Grealish, Josko Gvardiol, and even Rodri needed time to become accustomed to City’s style of play.
However, Gonzalez seems to be mastering the system within a year of playing under the coach.
Last season, Gonzalez found himself lower in the pecking order for the defensive midfield position, often trailing behind established players like Kovacic, Gundogan, and even Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne at times.
However, his situation has dramatically improved. Currently, he stands as the clear second choice to Rodri, who has been absent from the starting lineup since October 5th and has only featured for more than an hour in a mere five games this season.
“At this moment, Nico Gonzalez is undoubtedly the primary replacement when Rodri is unavailable,” Guardiola emphasized prior to City’s recent match against Bournemouth.
Gonzalez proceeded to exert a commanding presence in that game, playing a pivotal role in both of Haaland’s goals by effectively driving the ball forward.
Furthermore, Gonzalez delivered impressive performances in City’s 2-0 victory over Everton in October and during their Carabao Cup triumph against Swansea City.
In the latter match, he admirably recovered from an early mistake that led to the opposition scoring, ultimately guiding City to a comeback win.
“He is now absolutely essential to our team,” Guardiola remarked following City’s win in South Wales. “He’s incredibly young, a genuinely wonderful individual.
I’m extremely delighted because these types of players, who are remarkably receptive to coaching, are truly deserving of the greatest success.”
Guardiola has frequently praised Gonzalez’s receptiveness to instruction. This was evident in September during the Carabao Cup match against Huddersfield Town, where the City manager repeatedly summoned the midfielder to the touchline during the 2-0 victory.
He also took the time to speak with him again after the final whistle, illustrating his commitment to Gonzalez’s development.
“Nico is a player who is very attentive and eager to get better,” Guardiola stated. “He often seeks my advice on how to handle various situations on the field.
Being able to talk to him directly during the game is beneficial because I can provide clearer explanations.
Nico is a young player and exceptionally open to learning. As a manager, it’s a real privilege when a player is willing to be guided.”
Guardiola’s Guidance Starts to Show
Gonzalez also delivered a superb performance in the 3-0 win against Liverpool prior to the international break.
His contribution allowed City to dominate the midfield and he even scored their second goal, albeit with a significant deflection off Virgil van Dijk.
While Jeremy Doku’s dazzling performance captured most of the attention, Gonzalez’s crucial role may have gone unnoticed, which is unlikely to upset him.
He seems to be modeling his game after Sergio Busquets, his most significant influence. As former Spain coach Vicente del Bosque famously noted about Busquets, now playing for Inter Miami:
“If you simply watch the game, you might not notice Busquets. But if you focus on Busquets, you’ll understand the entire game.” That’s the profound, understated influence Nico is striving to achieve.
In a press conference prior to City’s match against Villarreal last month, Gonzalez acknowledged Busquets as his primary inspiration.
He also downplayed any comparisons to Rodri, stating that while he respects Rodri as a teammate and acknowledges his importance to the team’s performance, he doesn’t believe a direct comparison is relevant or something he focuses on.
It’s a smart move for Gonzalez to establish his own identity separate from his more celebrated teammate.
Realistically, even with his strong performances, he’d likely be overshadowed by Rodri if directly compared.
While there’s uncertainty about whether Rodri will fully recover to his previous form after his serious knee injury in September 2024, the fact that Rodri’s absence is being discussed less frequently speaks volumes about Gonzalez’s positive impact.
The Ballon d’Or winner’s extended period off the field significantly affected the team, contributing to their decline in results last year.
Although, the team is now managing well without him, a testament to Gonzalez’s influence and the void he is filling.
