Pep Guardiola’s Secret Weapon Exposed! Meet the Norwegian sensation who’s stealing the show and earning a spot in Manchester City’s first team!
Pep Guardiola appears to have found a new first-team star after just two pre-season games. “He’s been impressive this pre-season and deserves a spot on the first team. I will give him more playing time,” Guardiola said.
At Yankee Stadium on Saturday, a Norwegian talent shone. While fans cheered for Erling Haaland, who scored and received the night’s loudest applause, it was Oscar Bobb who truly stole the show. Bobb added another assist, bringing his total to three in two games, along with his goal against Celtic. Haaland, known for his scoring, has two goals in as many games, indicating a strong upcoming season.
Bobb, however, is leading the charge in the United States, just as he did in Asia last year. He is proving Guardiola’s belief that Manchester City doesn’t need new players and is making a strong case to be a first-team regular this season.
Last season, Bobb earned a reputation for escaping tight situations. Now, he’s showcasing his one-on-one skills, a talent honed in the academy. Guardiola has praised Savinho and Jeremy Doku for similar abilities. Like against Celtic, Bobb delighted the crowd by outpacing his defender and setting up Haaland for a goal.
The play mirrored Maximo Perrone’s goal against Celtic, where Bobb was again the mastermind. When he moved into midfield, executed a one-two, and aimed for the bottom corner, it seemed he would score, but his shot narrowly missed for the first time all summer.
The Haaland-Bobb partnership has accounted for four of City’s five pre-season goals in just 113 minutes, showcasing their excellent chemistry. This is particularly valuable as many of Guardiola’s top attackers are still on vacation.
Meanwhile, Guardiola expressed his displeasure with his young full-backs on the pitch. After Celtic scored three consecutive goals in North Carolina, Kalvin Phillips was benched. Samuel Chukwueze twice bypassed Rico Lewis and Callum Doyle with crosses, giving Lorenzo Colombo chances at the back post. Ederson, allowing the ball to pass through his body twice, also drew Guardiola’s frustration.
Despite some off-field issues, Ederson has shown commitment to preparing for the season, though he seemed unfocused in the Bronx. As captain for the night, he made two significant saves before his errors. Colombo’s shots were challenging, but Ederson will likely be hard on himself. He stayed on for the second half to solidify his position as No.1 but limped off after conceding a third goal, with Scott Carson replacing him.
Micah Hamilton, subbed in at halftime, set up McAtee’s equalizer. Like Bobb, Hamilton aims to impress Guardiola and justify his transfer decisions.
Despite a significant Italian presence in New York, most of the 46,000-strong crowd supported City. The venue, with baseball mounds occupying part of the pitch, wasn’t ideal for football. Before the game, Guardiola had a long meeting with Milan manager Paolo Fonseca and a brief reunion with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. In New York, he also met Andre Agassi; perhaps Zlatan was next on his list.
Ibrahimovic used to be the star in venues like Yankee Stadium. Now, Haaland is the commercial focal point, looking in good form. Yet, it’s Bobb who has been consistently impressive during their US tour.
