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Manchester City midfielder Nico Gonzalez has had an eventful start to his career at the Etihad but is learning a lot
Nico Gonzalez has finally confirmed what everybody suspected about Pep Guardiola: those pitchside chats are a LOT.
Gonzalez received possibly the lengthiest post-match debrief from the Manchester City manager anyone has seen when he was collared after the League Cup win at Huddersfield. What started with both sets of players on the pitch at full-time ended with the pair as the only two that hadn't disappeared down the tunnel.
City's manager has been keen since to talk up how open-minded and coachable Gonzalez is, and spoke on Monday at the Estadio de la Ceramica about the 23-year-old improving with every game he plays.
"I have the feeling that he’s getting better and better," the manager said. "It’s not easy sometimes arriving at a new club and playing a different style than eh played but we are really pleased with his behaviour and I’m pretty sure he will be better month by month, year by year.
"He's open minded, so coachable, and a lovely guy. His mum and dad have to be so proud of how he is as a player and human being."
Gonzalez laughed at the compliment about his parents that was put to him, and was more open with reporters than many can be as he discussed his 'dreamy' nine months at City after moving from Porto in the January transfer window. It may be hard work taking in a passionate Guardiola after a game, but it has stayed with him.
"They are intense, obviously," he said. "He is really intense and he tries to show you what you have to do better.
"At the end, when you are able to do it, you understand why he is so intense. But then, after he has explained everything, you keep thinking about it, which is good.
"You keep thinking about what you should improve. Those moments, even now, I keep thinking about them when I go to the pitch."
Since he arrived, Gonzalez has been stuck in a Rodri loop he cannot escape from. He isn't seen as a natural replacement for the Spaniard, or for the No.6 role, but is the best City have in a position that Rodri is still unable to fill regularly as his injury problems have carried over into this season.
Even this challenge is accepted with a smile by Gonzalez, and the midfielder was happy to take advice from Rodri on Saturday at half-time of the Premier League win over Everton. The comparisons may be inevitable, but if Gonzalez can keep growing at this rate he could begin to be seen on his own terms.
"He has to be himself but when you play with top players you always learn," said Guardiola. "If you are open and see how your game can be better, you can always be better.
"Nico has to be Nico and there are things that he can be fantastic and things that just for his age he can be better."
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