You could see where a Spanish midfielder will fit in at Manchester City last night | OneFootball

Manchester City picked up a massive 3-1 win over Bournemouth last night at the Etihad Stadium. The win put City up to third on the Premier League table. Pep Guardiola’s side only need a point on the final day against Fulham to secure Champions League football for next season. Following the game, we also saw Kevin De Bruyne say farewell to the Manchester City fans. But there was also a promising cameo in the game’s closing stages from Nico. That cameo showed where the Spanish midfielder will fit into the City squad for next season and beyond.

It is clear to see where Nico will fit at Manchester City for next season.

Nico replaced Kevin De Bruyne in the 69th minute of last night’s match. He came on just after Mateo Kovacic was sent off. It looked like Nico was brought on to give Manchester City control in midfield. But Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook was also sent off in the 73rd minute for a shocking challenge on Nico. It was from that moment on that you could see where Nico would fit into Pep Guardiola’s squad for next season.

Nico looks to be every bit a number eight rather than a number six. There is an intelligence to his forward runs and his pressing. That immediately stood out last night. His 89th-minute goal was the perfect encapsulation of this. He picked up the ball in midfield and made a driving run at a tired Bournemouth defence. Instead of squaring the ball to Ilkay Gundogan, the Spanish midfielder unleashed a powerful strike past Kepa to make it 3-nil on the night. But as a passage of play that showed exactly where Nico will fit into the Manchester City team next season.

The Spanish midfielder has needed time to adjust to life at Manchester City.

Nico hasn’t featured for Manchester City of late. Pep Guardiola has trusted his senior players over the past few months. That doesn’t mean Nico doesn’t have a key role to play in Pep Guardiola’s side for next season. He does, the Spanish midfielder has just needed time to adapt to life at Manchester City.

But we saw Rodri finally make his long awaited return last night from injury. We also saw that Nico looks to be every bit of a number eight in midfield in the Ilkay Gundogan mould. Put Nico alongside Rodri for next season and you can see the potential of a devastating midfield forming. Nico’s fit into Pep Guardiola’s side stood out last night. That was another promising sign from a vital win for Manchester City last night.