Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has explained why Nico Gonzalez might continue having a limited playing time this season, pointing instead to the fierce competition within his squad rather than any lack of ability from the young midfielder.
Despite flashes of promise and growing calls from supporters for greater involvement, Gonzalez has found opportunities hard to come by in recent months.
The Spaniard has not featured in a Premier League match since early February, with his only start in the past month arriving in the FA Cup fifth-round tie against Newcastle United.
It is a situation that underlines the challenge faced by emerging players at City, where even strong performances do not always translate into regular minutes on the pitch.
Guardiola, speaking candidly, suggested that Gonzalez’s development remains on the right track but acknowledged there are still aspects of his game that require refinement.
Competition at Manchester City at the highest level
At a club where depth and quality are defining traits, breaking into the starting XI is rarely straightforward. For Gonzalez, the presence of established midfield figures has proved to be a significant barrier.
“It’s Rodri and Bernardo [Silva],” Guardiola said in his press conference, when asked why Nico does not feature more often.
The City manager went on to highlight the calibre of players competing for similar roles, referencing both current and former stars who have set exceptionally high standards.
“Cole Palmer, how incredible a player he is. What a player! But it was Riyad [Mahrez] here, Bernardo, Kevin [De Bruyne] in his prime, [Ilkay] Gundo in the treble season.
In Guardiola’s view, this level of competition is not unusual at an elite club but rather an essential component of sustained success. Players must not only perform well but consistently outperform teammates who are among the best in the world.
Gonzalez, though still early in his development, has already demonstrated his potential. Guardiola recalled one particular display that stood out as evidence of his capabilities.
“I remember Nico Gonzalez played with Nico O’Reilly in Newcastle to qualify [for the FA Cup quarter-finals]. Nico maybe one of the best performances of the season.”
Even so, the manager made clear that experience and consistency remain decisive factors in selection decisions.
“But Rodri is Rodri. And sometimes you need minutes to become who he is, and Rodri how he played in the [Carabao Cup] final against Arsenal. And Bernardo. So it’s just that,” he continued.
The message was clear: Gonzalez is competing not just for a place in the team, but against players who have already proven themselves at the very highest level over several seasons.
While competition explains much of Gonzalez’s limited involvement, Guardiola also pointed to areas where the midfielder can continue to evolve.
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“The contribution from Nico [Gonzalez], he has seen for himself, it’s the best season he’s done so far. Nico is just growing, a lot of things to improve, mentally, how he’s able to get balls, break lines, look forward, many things.”
Positioning, decision-making, and composure under pressure are all critical elements in Guardiola’s system.
For Gonzalez, the challenge is to translate potential into complete performances that meet the demands of top-level football.
Guardiola also encouraged the Spaniard to learn from those ahead of him, particularly Rodri, widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders in the game.
“And I think he has to look at Rodri, how he does, he has been the best midfielder in the world – so how can I improve too? Because he’s so young, like Phil [Foden]. They have an incredible margin to improve.”
For now, however, the reality of competing in one of the most talented squads in European football means opportunities will continue to be hard-earned.
