Nico O’Reilly admits he loves his reputation as a big-time player.
O’Reilly was the hero in Manchester City’s two-goal victory in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley three months ago. The City full-back has a habit of succeeding when it matters, which is why he is relishing the chance to succeed again at the World Cup.
He made his debut against Croatia last Wednesday and will be ready to face Ghana in Boston on Tuesday as England aim to qualify for the knockout stages.
It may have been a scary opportunity for a young player, but the 21-year-old looked confident and determined to enjoy every moment of this summer.
O’Reilly said, “Well, I love the big stage. I think it brings out the best in me when I get on the big stage, and I like playing under pressure. I feel like I grow from it and just have fun.”
“Just playing the game and really, playing with a smile on my face and enjoying the experience.
“Yeah, it was really great. We were all on the same page a little bit at the beginning of the game and we started a little bit slow, but personally, I think we grew into our game really well. I think we’ve got to take that into the next game.”
O’Reilly was one of the best stories of last season as he helped City win the domestic cup double and cemented his place in England.
There is no doubt that he will be our first choice left-back going into this World Cup. In the long term, he still considers himself a midfielder, and that’s the position he grew up playing. But even as a left-back, he still steps into midfield.
O’Reilly said: “I think in the future I’ll go back to midfield. My profile, everything fits in there, maybe being a box-to-box midfielder, but I enjoy it as a left-back and that’s what has led me here to the World Cup now.”
O’Reilly quickly became manager Thomas Tuchel’s first-choice left-back.
“I play as a left-back, but I’ve been playing most of my time in the middle anyway, so I’m not playing as a traditional left-back. Even in England, I can go in and drift in and out wide, so I’m a bit more relaxed.”
England looked shaky from the start in their first match against Croatia, but O’Reilly says that was to be expected and they are now ready to bounce back.
Mr O’Reilly said:
“Maybe people were afraid of mistaking a pass or making a mistake. But yeah, after that conversation, I think we all came together and started playing free and opened up to us.”
“I think it was a lot more fun once we started pushing them and playing our own football. They couldn’t get out and we were getting shots, corner to corner. It felt like they couldn’t breathe.”
O’Reilly said he had a strong support network around him, including his mother, who also traveled to the United States to support him.
O’Reilly impressed after England’s World Cup opener against Croatia
“It’s very important, very important. If it wasn’t for my support, and the support that kept me going in the right direction and gave me advice, I wouldn’t be here. Yes, it’s very important,” he said.
“The most difficult thing is avoiding outside noise. There is a lot of support out there, which can be difficult for young people, but people help me and guide me in the right way.
“It was really fun. The training facility is great and it’s downtown so you can just hang out and relax, which was really fun.”
Mr O’Reilly has a number of tattoos on his arms, including the Manchester dial number 0161. He is a very proud Mantunian who grew up in the northeast part of the city.
He has a tattoo on his right hand that reads “No Risk, No Story.” That speaks to a player who is ready to put everything on the line for the World Cup.
“Personally, I just like taking risks. I think if you don’t take risks and take chances, you never know what will happen,” O’Reilly said, adding that he is already thinking about his next tattoo. Especially if England are at their best.
He added: “Maybe the World Cup. It’s my dream to play in the World Cup. If we win, it will stay in my heart forever.”
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