Manchester United hosted the second derby of the 2024-25 Premier League season against Manchester City on Matchday 31. In a match where the visitors struggled to find precision in the final third, manager Pep Guardiola didn’t hold back when assessing his lineup—specifically calling out one player as “not clever enough” to play in midfield.
In a game that lacked excitement from both sides, City controlled possession but failed to generate consistent attacking threats. After the match, Guardiola was asked about midfielder Matheus Nunes, who played in the right back position. The manager gave a candid evaluation:
“He can become a good right back for his physicality. I think he’s not a player to play in the middle because he’s not clever enough,” Guardiola said. “He has incredible skills and he’s learning a lot. Fullbacks always have a big mistake when it comes to crosses to the far post—they’re always sleeping. He defended really well on two or three of those, like the ones Bruno (Fernandes) put in. He can play in that position. He helps us a lot.”
Guardiola also explained how injuries have forced the club to experiment with different defensive arrangements. “When we started the season and you tell me I’d be playing Matheus at right back and Nico (O’Riley) in a deeper role, I’d say, ‘What are you talking about?’ But the season is what it is,” Guardiola continued. “Now Manuel Akanji is coming back. We have two young center backs, and the last two games, the back four have been excellent.”
With Kyle Walker now at AC Milan and Akanji just returning from injury, Nunes has become Guardiola’s go-to option at right back—though he remains a work in progress. Against United, he tallied 80 touches, one interception, one foul, and lost possession 12 times.
see also
MLS club reportedly emerges as Kevin De Bruyne’s next destination after Manchester City exit
Guardiola’s tone shift from initial praise
Guardiola first took notice of Nunes in 2022 while the Portuguese midfielder was still at Sporting Lisbon. Even though City cruised to a 5–0 victory in that Champions League clash, Nunes left a strong impression on the Spanish manager, who boldly declared at the time: “He’s one of the best players in the world right now.”
However, following City’s €62 million signing of Nunes from Wolverhampton in 2023, Guardiola admitted he may have gotten carried away: “Maybe I exaggerated a bit when I said Matheus Nunes was one of the best players in the world. He’s a very good player. Maybe I said that after a 5-1 win. I don’t remember the exact score. But he’s an exceptional player.”
Despite the praise, Nunes has struggled to fully adapt to Guardiola’s system. While his ball-carrying ability stands out, his effectiveness in tight spaces has yet to match the club’s expectations. Guardiola is now working to reshape the 25-year-old into a reliable right-back option—one capable of carving out a more consistent role in City’s starting XI.
