{"id":1444889,"date":"2026-04-23T14:02:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T13:02:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&#038;p=1444889"},"modified":"2026-04-23T14:02:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T13:02:52","slug":"tactical-analysis-nico-gonzalez-man-city-premier-league-fa-cup","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/tactical-analysis-nico-gonzalez-man-city-premier-league-fa-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Nico Gonzalez Analysis: What next for Man City midfielder after surprise omission"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cI think for tomorrow he will not be ready,\u201d Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said of Rodri ahead of Wednesday\u2019s 1-0 win at Burnley.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">City needed to secure all the spoils to leapfrog Arsenal into top spot in the Premier League. Erling Haaland\u2019s fifth-minute strike was enough to separate the two teams at Turf Moor in midweek. While City could, and perhaps should, have won by more, they got the job done ahead of the run-in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>In this article, we&#8217;ll cover:<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-gonzalez-started-burnley-win-on-the-bench\" data-level=\"3\">Gonzalez started Burnley win on the bench<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-midfielder-excelled-off-the-bench-at-turf-moor\" data-level=\"3\">Midfielder excelled off the bench at Turf Moor<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-defensive-phenom\" data-level=\"3\">Defensive phenom<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Attention now turns to the FA Cup semi-final meeting with Southampton on Saturday. City are hunting down a domestic treble as they look to follow up last month\u2019s EFL Cup success over with further trophies. The game against Saints won&#8217;t be a walk in the park. They\u2019ve already claimed one Premier League scalp having defeated Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tonda Eckert has worked wonders since taking over the St. Mary\u2019s reins in November. Indeed, Saints have gone from relegation fodder to promotion contenders. And while Guardiola will hope to have his star man Rodri available, City <em>should<\/em> have enough to come out on top against the south coast side this weekend with or without the Spaniard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-gonzalez-started-burnley-win-on-the-bench\">Gonzalez started Burnley win on the bench<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What was interesting, though, was Guardiola\u2019s decision to overlook compatriot Nico Gonzalez at Turf Moor. Gonzalez replaced Rodri for the final knockings of the Arsenal win in a like-for-like change as the latter struggled with a calf problem. Logic would dictate that the former Porto man would start alongside Bernardo Silva in a 4-2-3-1 setup.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"article-page__title\">Dabble sign-up offer: <b data-stringify-type=\"bold\">Bet \u00a310+ &amp; Receive \u00a310 In Free Bets<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p><strong>Not signed up to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/dabble-sign-up-offer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dabble<\/a> yet? Here's how to claim the <b data-stringify-type=\"bold\">Bet \u00a310+ &amp; Receive \u00a310 In Free Bets<\/b> welcome offer:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n<li>Sign up to Dabble through this <a href=\"\/en\/go\/dabble?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\">link<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li>Register your account with accurate personal details<\/li>\r\n<li>Place your first bet of \u00a310 or more<\/li>\r\n<li>Receive your \u00a310 in free bets when your qualifying bet has setted<\/li>\r\n<li>Use your Free Bet on any eligible sportsbook market within 7 days<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><a href=\"\/en\/go\/dabble?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1423518 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/12083841\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-083822-300x250.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/12083841\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-083822-300x250.png 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/12083841\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-083822-320x267.png 320w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/12083841\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-083822-240x200.png 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/12083841\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-083822-72x60.png 72w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/12083841\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-083822-150x125.png 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/12083841\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-083822-40x33.png 40w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/01\/12083841\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-083822.png 712w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\r\n<p>#AD 18+ 7-day free bet expiry. Stake not returned. Promotional Terms Apply.\u00a0<a class=\"c-link\" href=\"http:\/\/gambleaware.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-stringify-link=\"http:\/\/GambleAware.org\" data-sk=\"tooltip_parent\">GambleAware.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2018Logic\u2019 isn\u2019t a word in Guardiola\u2019s vocabulary. Rather, he pushed Nico O\u2019Reilly into midfield and started Rayan Ait-Nouri at left-back. The former shone in defence against Arsenal but was preferred in his favoured midfield berth at Turf Moor. The issue, then, is what next for Gonzalez?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 24-year-old penned a four-and-a-half-year deal when he made the move to the Etihad Stadium last January. The decision to sign Gonzalez was to act as Rodri\u2019s deputy. And it\u2019s one that has worked well. The former has started 15 league games, the latter 16 this season. Only twice have City not started either Gonzalez or Rodri in a league match in the 2025-26 campaign. The 1-0 loss at Aston Villa in October, and the 1-0 win at Burnley on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-midfielder-excelled-off-the-bench-at-turf-moor\">Midfielder excelled off the bench at Turf Moor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Guardiola won\u2019t start both players together, but the pattern has largely been that when Rodri isn\u2019t available, Gonzalez would start. Ultimately, he came on midway through the second half against Burnley to shore the side up. And in truth, the midfielder did little wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gonzalez made two tackles and one interception against the Clarets. He was tidy in possession, too, returning a 93.3% pass accuracy from 30 attempted passes. Admittedly Gonzalez doesn\u2019t set the pulses racing. However, he is there to carry out a necessary duty in front of the defence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And while Burnley didn\u2019t offer much in the final third &#8211; they only managed one shot on target &#8211; three of their nine efforts were on the counter-attack. Had Burnley sported their shooting boots, it could have made for an incredibly uncomfortable evening for City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-defensive-phenom\">Defensive phenom<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet having been overlooked for such a crunch clash, even against a team of Burnley\u2019s calibre, will have been a blow for Gonzalez. It\u2019s not even as though Gonzalez has done a lot wrong when called upon. He carries out the nitty gritty defensive duties to a high standard.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/04\/23135052\/season_stat-leader-top-10-betway-8-1-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1444892\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/04\/23135052\/season_stat-leader-top-10-betway-8-1-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/04\/23135052\/season_stat-leader-top-10-betway-8-1-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/04\/23135052\/season_stat-leader-top-10-betway-8-1-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/04\/23135052\/season_stat-leader-top-10-betway-8-1-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/04\/23135052\/season_stat-leader-top-10-betway-8-1-214x267.jpg 214w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/04\/23135052\/season_stat-leader-top-10-betway-8-1-160x200.jpg 160w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/04\/23135052\/season_stat-leader-top-10-betway-8-1-48x60.jpg 48w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/04\/23135052\/season_stat-leader-top-10-betway-8-1-120x150.jpg 120w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/04\/23135052\/season_stat-leader-top-10-betway-8-1.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2.4 tackles per 90 is fourth for City in the Premier League this season. Ait-Nouri (3.2), O\u2019Reilly and Rodri (both 2.5) are those above Gonzalez for this metric. An 82.6% tackle success rate is also better than the likes of O\u2019Reilly (75.9%) and Rodri (73.6%). Gonzalez is a ball-winning phenom. While the retention needs a little refinement, he\u2019s the perfect stand-in for Rodri when needs must.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNico Gonzalez has helped us a lot, a lot this season in the absence of Rodri, and he&#8217;s helped us to be in the position that we are right now,\u201d Guardiola enthused ahead of the Burnley game. The City boss evidently still thinks highly of the midfielder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As such, it could be that Guardiola is saving Gonzalez for the Saints clash. It won\u2019t be plain-sailing for Guardiola\u2019s side. Arsenal found this out the hard way. Even so, Gonzalez will be hoping that he can return to the starting XI for Saturday\u2019s clash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If he is overlooked again, the midfielder may well consider his future at the club.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/\"><strong>Latest football news<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football betting tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best betting sites<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/best-free-bet-offers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best free bet offers<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/accumulator\/\" target=\"_blank\" 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City needed to secure all the spoils to leapfrog Arsenal into top spot in the Premier League. Erling Haaland\u2019s fifth-minute strike was enough to separate the two teams at Turf Moor&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3564,"featured_media":1444890,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Nico Gonzalez analysis after Pep Guardiola overlooked the Man City midfielder vs Burnley, examining his role, performances and what the decision means for his future.","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"features-category":[],"squawka-category":[],"class_list":["post-1444889","features","type-features","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Nico Gonzalez Analysis: What next for Man City midfielder after surprise omission | Squawka | EN<\/title>\n<meta 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