Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Nico González’ performance against Swansea City as Manchester City secured a comeback victory in the Carabao Cup.
The Sky Blues recovered from an early setback to defeat the Championship side 3–1, with goals from Jeremy Doku, Omar Marmoush, and Rayan Cherki ensuring their progression to the next round.
While City’s attacking trio stole the headlines with their sharp finishes, Guardiola was quick to underline Nico’s influence without the ball, describing the Spaniard as a vital cog in maintaining balance and control throughout the match.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, the City manager highlighted how the youngster’s defensive intelligence and positional awareness allowed the team’s more creative players to thrive.
“Defensively he helped us a lot,” Guardiola said of Nico.
“We have an incredible amount of players offensively that don’t have the mentality to defend. Not because they don’t want to run — to defend means when I’m close to the opponent and take the ball. We are not top in that and Nico help us in that.”
Guardiola’s comments reflected his long-standing emphasis on team structure and discipline, values that have underpinned City’s dominance in English football.
Despite being known for his intricate attacking patterns and possession-heavy style, the Catalan manager has often insisted that his sides’ success depends equally on how they behave out of possession.
Against Swansea, Nico provided the kind of balance Guardiola demands — covering spaces, closing passing lanes, and ensuring that the team could recover quickly when losing the ball.
His presence in midfield offered a reassuring anchor that allowed players like Doku and Cherki to express their flair higher up the pitch.
For Guardiola, who has worked with some of the world’s finest holding midfielders, from Sergio Busquets at Barcelona to Rodri at City, Nico’s development represents another exciting project.
The City boss noted that beyond his defensive discipline, the Spaniard’s calmness on the ball and spatial awareness were instrumental in dictating City’s tempo, especially after going behind early in the match.
“But especially the ball moves much better in the right positions, much clever where the space is free,” Guardiola explained.
“He’s so young, a lovely guy, so I’m very pleased because these type of football players they are incredibly coachable, they deserve the best.”
It was a mature display from a player still at the beginning of his professional journey. While others in the squad dazzled with their attacking exploits, Nico’s understated control and decision-making drew quiet appreciation from the touchline.
Guardiola’s comments suggest he sees the midfielder as a long-term fit for the role that demands both technical precision and tactical understanding.
In recent years, Guardiola has often emphasized how his midfielders must think several steps ahead. Players like Rodri have mastered the art of anticipating danger and dictating transitions, and the City boss seems to believe Nico possesses similar instincts.
His positioning allowed City to maintain a compact shape, cutting off Swansea’s counter-attacking opportunities while dictating the pace of possession.
The win itself may not have come as a major surprise, given City’s depth and quality, but Guardiola’s post-match focus on Nico reflects a pattern.
The Catalan is known for publicly praising players who carry out tactical instructions precisely — especially those whose work may go unnoticed in the highlights. It is a mark of respect for the unseen side of the game, the kind of football intelligence Guardiola prizes above flair alone.
City’s supporters, too, will have been encouraged by Nico González‘ performance against Swansea City. With fixture congestion across multiple competitions, Guardiola’s rotation policy means every squad member must be ready to step in and perform.
The Carabao Cup has traditionally provided opportunities for younger talents to stake their claim, and Nico appears to be making the most of his chance.
