The one Man City player Pep Guardiola singled out after Swansea win - 'he's fundamental'

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about his team's performance in their win over Swansea in the Carabao Cup

Pep Guardiola said Nico Gonzalez is getting better and better after the midfielder helped Manchester City into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.

Gonzalez has had a challenging start to his first year of the club and is still being asked to play in the holding role with Rodri suffering more injury issues. The former Porto player shrugged off a knock suffered in the Champions League win over Villarreal last week to start in South Wales, with Mateo Kovacic also sidelined.

It was a difficult game for the Blues as Swansea took the lead and made life difficult for them. However, City slowly found their rhythm and proved too strong in the final 15 minutes of the game with goals from Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki adding to Jeremy Doku's first-half equaliser.

Guardiola was happy with his goalscorers but also midfielder Gonzalez, who impressed throughout as a calm presence in the team even when others around him were not.

"He's getting better and getting better. Now he's fundamental for us, Nico," said Guardiola.

"Defensively he helped us a lot. We have an incredible lot of players offensively that have a mentality to defend.

"Not because we don't want to run, defend means when I'm close to the opponent I take the ball and we are not top in that.

"Nico helped us a lot, especially in the ball, every time. He moves much better in the right positions, he's much cleverer where the space is free.

"He's so young, he's a lovely guy. I'm really pleased because these type of football players are incredibly coachable. They deserve the best."

Gonzalez will look to continue his form when City host Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday.

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