Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders’ frustration over the limited time he has been given is now glaring, though he admitted that competition for places has left him determined to prove his worth ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Reijnders arrived at the Etihad Stadium in June after completing a move from AC Milan. He was one of the standout recruits signed under Hugo Viana, who assumed the role of Manchester City’s director of football after the exit of longtime executive Txiki Begiristain.
His arrival was greeted with enthusiasm among City supporters, especially after a series of polished pre-season outings and lively displays at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, which helped set expectations for his first Premier League campaign.
The Dutch midfielder made an explosive introduction to English football with an outstanding debut in City’s 4–0 victory over Wolves at Molineux, a performance widely hailed as one of the most commanding first appearances in recent Premier League memory.
Yet despite the bright start, Reijnders has found the learning curve in England steep, with the increased physicality and tactical demands of Pep Guardiola’s system limiting the consistency of his appearances.
City’s opening weeks of the season did little to ease the pressure. Following the Wolves win, the champions stumbled through back-to-back defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion, sliding into the bottom half of the table and reigniting concern over the defensive issues that had plagued their troubled 2024–25 season.
But as September arrived, so too did a revival. An impressive run of 11 wins from 14 matches in all competitions has lifted Guardiola’s side back into familiar territory, positioning them to challenge Arsenal at the top of the Premier League and strengthening their grip on qualification for the Champions League Round of 16.
Even during City’s resurgence, Reijnders has endured spells on the bench.
Opportunities in midfield have been sparse, and with Erling Haaland carrying a heavy goalscoring burden, Guardiola has been searching for midfielders capable of easing that pressure.
He, however, stepped up impressively in City’s win over Borussia Dortmund before the international break, providing two assists for Phil Foden in a crucial Champions League result.
But found himself back among the substitutes days later when Manchester City hosted Liverpool, a reminder of the stiff internal competition that often defines Guardiola’s squads.
Meanwhile, while his club form continues to fluctuate, the midfielder has also been wrestling with limited opportunities on the international stage.
The Netherlands possess one of the strongest midfield pools in European football, with Frenkie de Jong and Ryan Gravenberch among those ahead of Reijnders in the pecking order.
Minutes have therefore been scarce in recent months, increasing Tijjani Reijnders‘ frustration and urgency to impress national team manager Ronald Koeman.
He made his frustration known after he made a notable impact in the Netherlands’ win over Lithuania this week.
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Introduced for a brief 16-minute cameo, he marked his appearance by contributing both a goal and an assist—an assertive response to his reduced role.
Speaking afterwards, Reijnders admitted that being on the bench had tested his patience.
“I was a bit irritated, yes,” the Manchester City star said after the win, as quoted by Voetbal Primeur and relayed by Sport Witness.
“I really want to play and that’s why I wanted to show myself today.
“It felt a bit like I had to pause for a moment. I was definitely extra eager, yes. You want to make your mark right away, especially since I didn’t start the last match. If you look at the squad, we have a very broad squad with players who all play at a very high level.
“So, it can happen that you end up on the bench. It was up to me to show why I deserve to be in the starting lineup, in my opinion. It’s good that the national coach (Ronald Koeman) is having a hard time with the decisions he has to make.”
The comments reflect a player pushing to establish himself firmly in the national setup as the 2026 World Cup approaches.
