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Manchester City are still challenging on four fronts after booking their place in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup - but the workload could catch up with two key men
As Nico Gonzalez and Nico O'Reilly departed during the torrential rain at the Etihad on Wednesday, Pep Guardiola had a big high five for both. The pair have earned it in recent weeks.
The two have become integral to this Manchester City revival which now stands at six straight wins in all competitions, the chance to go top of the Premier League for a few hours at least this weekend, and a Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle United with the prospect of claiming the first domestic trophy of the season.
Not many people will have put the two Nicos towards the top of City's key men at the start of the campaign. Neither were assured of a place in the XI in August, now they are two of the first names on the teamsheet.
It's testament to the quality of both that they have grasped the opportunity, with O'Reilly in particular a real force having seen off City's first natural left back signing in almost a decade with Rayan Ait-Nouri now second choice behind the England international. The Algerian is currently away at the Africa Cup of Nations, O'Reilly could be a starter at the World Cup next summer.
The 20-year-old faces the prospect of a 12 month season that didn't seem likely when the campaign started. O'Reilly has played 23 times for club and country this term, Gonzalez 24. The latter is the only fit recognised sitting midfield in the squad with Rodri and Mateo Kovacic sidelined through injury and the out of favour Kalvin Phillips not fully fit.
There are alternatives, with Matheus Nunes introduced in the middle against Brentford while Tijjani Reijnders and Bernardo Silva have played there in the past. But Gonzalez is the best and most natural option of that bunch and it's a similar story with O'Reilly, at least in the short term. Ait-Nouri is a natural challenger but he'll be absent for the next few weeks on international duty. Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol can fill in on the left but such has been O'Reilly's form that both would feel a step down.
It meant the sight of O'Reilly and Gonzalez in the XI for a Carabao Cup tie where Guardiola had promised changes and ultimately made seven, was a surprise. It felt an opportunity to rest the duo ahead of a busy run of fixtures across multiple competitions in the coming weeks.
The pair were both replaced just after the hour and Guardiola admitted afterwards he didn't want either to be playing 90 minutes. The problem is the quality shown by both in recent weeks and the lack of natural alternatives available make it difficult to leave out either.
"I didn’t want to play Nico (Gonzalez) or O’Reilly 90 minutes again. They play a lot of minutes, and we have a massively important game against West Ham," said Guardiola after the win over Brentford. The two Nicos will be needed again against the Hammers. There's no winter break here.
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