After a hard-fought draw in the Manchester derby, Pep Guardiola offered some eye-opening insights that left fans raising eyebrows.
While reviewing his team’s performance following the 0-0 stalemate against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Guardiola didn’t hold back when discussing Matheus Nunes — and the manager’s words definitely made headlines.
Not the Midfield Maestro Pep Hoped For
Guardiola didn’t mince words when evaluating Nunes’ abilities in midfield.
Despite Manchester City spending £53 million to bring him in as a central midfielder in 2023, Pep admitted that Nunes might not be cut out for that role.
“He’s not quite there in terms of composure or decision-making to play centrally,” Guardiola shared, candidly describing the Portuguese international as “not clever enough” for the middle of the park.
While the comment was likely more tactical than personal, it certainly came off as a brutal assessment of a high-profile signing.
Reinventing Nunes at Right-Back
Interestingly, Guardiola sees potential for Nunes in a completely different position — right-back.
Since January, the 25-year-old has been filling in there following Kyle Walker’s temporary departure to AC Milan.
And while it’s not his natural spot, Guardiola believes he’s adjusting well.
“Physically, he has what it takes,” Pep explained.
“He’s strong, quick, and is learning the nuances of the role.
Full-backs often get caught napping on back-post crosses, but he did a great job defending two or three key deliveries, especially from Bruno Fernandes and Patrick Dorgu.”
From Utility Player to Jack-of-All-Trades
Nunes has been Mr. Versatile for City this season.
He’s played everywhere — central midfield, both full-back positions, left wing, and even further upfield.
With Rico Lewis being the only natural right-back left in the squad, Pep’s had to get creative, and Nunes has often been the answer.
In a previous interview, Nunes even expressed his willingness to step into any role: “At Wolves I was more of a winger, at Sporting I was used to playing deeper in a double pivot.
I’ve been all over, and I’m ready to help wherever I’m needed.”
Learning From Past Mistakes
This latest Manchester derby was an improvement for Nunes compared to his forgettable outing in December.
In that game, he gave away possession to Amad Diallo, then fouled him in the box, resulting in a penalty that Bruno Fernandes converted.
Diallo went on to score again, giving United a 2-1 win.
But this time, Nunes held his own defensively and avoided costly errors.
While he’s still finding his feet, there’s progress — and Guardiola clearly sees enough to continue trusting him at right-back.
Confidence in the Squad Runs Deep
Despite the learning curve and positional changes, Nunes remains confident in himself and his teammates.
When Rodri was sidelined with a long-term injury, he stepped up and offered to fill the void.
“We’ve got so much depth and talent,” he said.
“Whoever steps onto the pitch will perform. Last year we lost Erling and Kevin at times, but we still got the job done. This year will be no different.”
What Lies Ahead?
With Pep continuing to experiment and adapt, Matheus Nunes could very well carve out a new identity in this City side.
He may not be the midfield anchor fans expected, but in Guardiola’s system, adaptability might be the most valuable trait of all.
Whether Nunes thrives at right-back or finds another niche, it’s clear his story at City is still being written.
