Pep Guardiola Labels Surprise Manchester City Player A 'Superhero'

Given that Manchester City are currently on an 18 match win streak and are sitting 15 points clear at the Premier League summit, you could make an argument for several of their players being labelled as 'superman', but Pep Guardiola has singled out one member of his squad for such praise.

And it's not someone many of us would have guessed.

Rather than sing the praises of Kevin de Bruyne, Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling or David Silva, the Manchester City manager has instead heralded the impact of once maligned Argentinean centre-half Nicolas Otamendi.

The former Valencia defender came in for rampant criticism during his first two seasons in East Manchester, with multiple error strewn performances seemingly leaving his future hanging in the balance.

However, this season, the Argentina international has rediscovered the form that saw City part with £36 million for him in 2015.

The 29-year-old has alongside the likes of Ederson, Kyle Walker and John Stones, helped solidify a City defence that leaked goals for fun last term, with Guardiola's men boasting the most watertight back line in the Premier League.

And Otamendi has even added a few goals to his repertoire, scoring five in 23 appearances so far, this season.

Speaking after Wednesday night's 1-0 away victory over Newcastle United at St. James' Park, Guardiola said of his 'superman' centre-half, "Without Nico it would not have been possible what we have done.

"Everybody has spoken about a lot of players like Raheem, Kevin, Sergio [Aguero], they deserve it, but if I can point some attention to a player who deserves the respect is Nico.

"He has been amazing - he is one of the hugest competitors I have ever seen in my life."

"I cannot imagine the situation we are in at the moment in terms of the table without him. It would have been impossible."

A far cry from the criticisms leveled at the former Porto man during his first two seasons with the Citizens.

(H/T 101 Great Goals)

Topics: Manchester City, Football News, Football, Pep Guardiola, Premier League

Joe Baiamonte

Northerner. Assistant Editor of SPORTbible. Studied Journalism and Broadcasting in a portakabin on a car park of Salford University for three years. Believes football peaked with Serie A in the '90s and strong-arms pro wrestling references into as many articles as possible. Neymar once took 50 euros off me during a game of poker.

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