O’Reilly’s rise has not been built on hype alone. He has featured in 51 of 57 City matches this season, scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Arsenal in the League Cup final, and also played a decisive part in the 2-1 league victory over Arsenal with the assist for Erling Haaland’s winner.
He has also broken into the England setup and collected recognition as the Premier League’s top academy graduate this week. For a side that has often needed fresh energy, O’Reilly has provided exactly that: composure, drive and a habit of showing up in big moments.
One of the most interesting parts of O’Reilly’s emergence is where it has happened. Developed as an attacking midfielder and even used as a false nine in youth football, he was shifted to left-back by Pep Guardiola - a move that now looks inspired.
That change has not stripped away his attacking instinct; it has sharpened it. O’Reilly has said Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias helped him with the defensive side, while his ability to arrive high up the pitch always looked natural. Against Chelsea, that blend could matter. Finals are often decided by players who can solve two problems at once: defend their flank and still hurt the opposition going forward.
“Quando você é criança e vê uma bola, tem que chutar,” O’Reilly said, and that line says plenty about the edge in his game. There is polish now, but there is still street football in the way he attacks space and backs himself in big moments.
For City, the next question is simple: can O’Reilly turn a breakout campaign into a signature Wembley performance? Against Chelsea, that may be one of the final’s defining subplots - and one worth watching long after the trophy is lifted.