Manchester City youngster O Reilly: I am 193cm tall and may grow taller. I suffered from growing pains when I was 16

Manchester City youngster O'Reilly recently accepted an exclusive interview and shared his growth experience and feelings about playing in Manchester City.

Talking about the challenges in the process of growing up

"Growing up at the best club in the world around the age of 15, you will inevitably doubt whether you really have a chance to succeed. In this team that has won all the honors, it is really not easy for young players to stand out. But it is also exciting. As long as you train hard, the opportunity will eventually come. I suffered from growing pains during the season when I was 16 years old. 16 years old is the main growth period, and I may still grow a few centimeters at 193 centimeters. For half a year to a year, I struggled with poor body coordination and couldn't move as expected, like a deer on the ice. But as my body matured, the situation gradually improved, and my playing style remained consistent even when I was smaller, and the increased height and strength really brought about it. "

Regarding the arrangement of staying in U18 for one more year

"I didn't understand this decision at the time, but later I realized that it was because the club had in-depth communication with me, and it turned out that this arrangement was correct. At that age, you always want to be with your teammates. It took me a few months to adapt, and my performance was slow at the beginning of the season, but I made a breakthrough after figuring it out."

A serious foot injury in the 23/24 season cost him the season.

"This injury was very difficult and required surgery to recover. Although I wanted to support the team, I was afraid of affecting the morale of the game. It was particularly painful when I resumed playing, and it was not until seven or eight months before I could play comfortably. It was a difficult year, but I received a lot of support. I knew that the season was a waste, and I had to work harder to prepare for the preseason in the summer."

Talking about the switch from left midfielder to left back

"It was completely learned in practice. Friends have given me a lot of help, but I still need to adapt to one-on-one defense against the league's top attackers. This role is different from the traditional full-back, with more freedom to move forward and in. As long as the defense is stable, the coach encourages us to create threats on the offensive end and become an additional attack point in the penalty area. Now I feel that all aspects are gradually being integrated. , the key is to stay strong, fast and brave to fight."

About pressure

"I have always believed that I can do it, but in a club like Manchester City, high standards bring huge pressure. You have to continue to perform well, because the team has to compete for championships and points every week. It is not easy."

Regarding the future

"There are still many games before the World Cup. I need to work hard and fight for opportunities with sustained performance. The team has gone through a certain restructuring and it will take time to adjust, but we are competitive enough. As long as we focus on each game and continue to get three points, we don't need to pay too much attention to other teams such as Arsenal. We just need to move forward steadily."