Manchester City’s next match is still days away, but there is plenty to talk about.
Pep Guardiola receives manager of the month nomination
Thanks to Man City’s improved results, Guardiola has been shortlisted for the Premier League manager of the month award.
The Barclays Manager of the Month nominees for April are in! 👀
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 30, 2026
Who gets your vote? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/FfzGIG0kh8
The Catalan coach is up against Vitor Pereira, whose Nottingham Forest team recently thrashed Burnley and Sunderland respectively, netting nine goals in the process.
Arne Slot, Andoni Iraola, Daniel Farke and Fabian Hurzeler are also up for the
Rayan Cherki and Nico O’Reilly receive Premier League player of the month nominations
Unsurprisingly, Rayan Cherki is up for the Premier League player of the month award after three matches of pure brilliance.
The playmaker recorded two assists at Stamford Bridge, one of which might just be one of the passes of the season.
@mancity The pass. The finish 😮💨 Marc Guéhi’s first @Premier League goal for City 🩵 #ManCity #PremierLeague #Football #Highlights #MarcGuehi ♬ original sound – Manchester City
He then scored a fabulous goal against Arsenal, casually beating multiple defenders and slotting the ball past David Raya.
Cherki is bringing the excitement back to English football, but he is so much more than just an entertainer.
This is an attacker with a range of technical abilities and at 22 years old, he could become one of the world’s best players.
Cherki is not the only star in town, as O’Reilly is another member of the City squad to receive a player of the month nomination.
The Englishman is redefining what it means to be a left-back, as he often makes runs inside and looks to find the net, often with headed efforts.
O’Reilly landed on the scoresheet against Chelsea, arriving in the box in a similar fashion to when he scored his second goal in the Carabao Cup final.
Additionally, the 21-year-old showed his versatility by moving into midfield against Burnley, filling in for the injured Rodri.
The other player of the month candidates are Jarrod Bowen, Morgan Gibbs-White, Pascal Gross, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Noah Okafor and Alex Scott.
Nico O’Reilly heaps praise on Pep Guardiola
Speaking with Sky Sports News, O’Reilly has explained how important it is for him to be able to do what he does best.
“I like to play with freedom, play with confidence, and just show my abilities,” the defender said.
Crediting his manager, O’Reilly added: “He [Pep Guardiola] just lets me go and play my game, and he has trust in me, and I think that’s the most important thing.
“I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and been part of, but the way I see it is it’s just another game, another day. I’ve been playing all my life for these situations and opportunities, so why let the occasion get the better of me now? Just go out there and play with freedom, confidence.”
Nico Gonzalez calls Rodri the world’s best player
Appearing in a Man City video about Spanish comforts with Rodri, Nico has talked about how he has been inspired by his fellow countryman and teammate.
The 24-year-old has addressed Rodri’s early career struggles and marveled at how he was able to transform himself into the greatest player in the world.
“And I hear you saying that maybe the Ballon d’Or isn’t something you want to be your most important achievement in your career, because you’ve won the Champions League, Premier Leagues, Euros with Spain.
“You’ve done amazing things, and we’re now on the same team. But I haven’t even done a tenth of that.
I think the greatest inspiration you can give me or any young Spanish kid, is you left Atletico because they let you go. Someone who at 16 or 17, went to Villarreal, has managed to become the best player in the world. It’s incredibly inspiring, amazing.”
Nathan Ake exploring Man City departure
Fabrizio Romano has reported that Ake is weighing up his future at Man City, and is considering bidding his club of six years farewell after the season concludes.
However, the Dutchman is currently focused on finishing what has been a strong campaign with City. In fact, it is one they could end with three pieces of silverware.
Once Ake does make a decision, he could be given the opportunity to move to Serie A, with Italian clubs previously showing an interest.
Darren England will referee FA Cup final between Chelsea and Man City
Darren England will referee the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City, after having officiated four of their Premier League games this season.
The 40-year-old oversaw City’s outings against Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Akil Howson will feature as the assistant referee. Tim Wood will also operate as an assistant while Sam Barrott will act as the fourth official, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
Furthermore, Peter Bankes will be responsible for VAR duties during the showpiece event, and assisted by Nick Hopton.
Nico O’Reilly reveals Pep Guardiola conversation before Salford clash
Speaking to Sky Sports, O’Reilly explained that Guardiola first asked him to play left-back before the Salford clash in the FA Cup.
This decision proved significant since he has assisted once and scored three goals from the left-back position.
“There’s was one day before Salford in the FA Cup, and [Pep] he said: ‘Do you wanna play left back?’ I’ve enjoyed it ever since, I’ve learnt so much,” O’Reilly said.
