Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola does not think that Matheus Nunes is smart enough to play in midfield and wants him to grow in his right-wing role as a result.
Nunes came to City as a replacement for Ilkay Gundogan in August 2023 and has since made 62 performances in all competitions for them.
But despite the fact that he originally came to the club as a midfielder, nine of Nunes '14 starts in the competition this season. Each of his last eight consecutive starts was back on the right, including in the 0-0 of the city that went to Manchester United on Sunday.
“He [Nunes] Can become a good right back for his physicality, “Guardiola said reported, as quoted by ESPN.
“I think he is not a player to play in midfield because he is not smart enough, in calmness, but he has incredible skills and he learns a lot.
“The big mistake of full-backs is when you have the cross to the distant mail where you are, they always sleep.
“But he defended two or three crosses very well, such as when Bruno [Fernandes] Put it on the far post [Patrick] Dorgu.
“He has the attention and physicality to do it so that he can play in that position and help us a lot.”
Kevin De Bruyne today completed only 69% of his passes in Old Trafford (20 of 29), his lowest passing accuracy in one of the 20 games that the Belgian started this season for Man City.#Munmci pic.twitter.com/ozugxqzaijj
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With Kyle Walker on loan at AC Milan and reportedly close to a permanent exit, Guardiola seems to be returning his full -time replacement.
They brought both Abdukodir Khusanov and Vior's trip into the January transfer window, although the first has started a hot-and-and-cold at the club that led one error directly to a goal.
In the meantime, Nunes has made an average of 2.24 tackles and 0.95 interceptions per 90 minutes in the competition this season, second and fourth respectively among city players who have characterized more than twice.
“If you start the season, if you said,” Matheus will just play back, “you would ask what I am talking about,” Guardiola said.
“But it's what it is. The rear four was excellent [against United]. Rúben [Dias] Was incredible. So we build on that. “