Manchester City have been told they have a potential ‘masterpiece’ on their hands following the 4-2 pre-season victory over Chelsea.
City rounded off their US tour in style, beating Premier League rivals Chelsea in front of 71,000 fans in Colombus Ohio.
Erling Haaland hit a hat-trick and Oscar Bobb also got in on the act.
Pep Guardiola did not have many of his key stars for the tour. But this allowed him the opportunity to give minutes to some of the young academy talents – and several have seriously impressed.
Guardiola has confirmed that James McAtee and Nico O’Reilly will now be promoted to the first-team squad for 2024/25 which is very exciting.
One young player who could really have a lot more prominence in the coming season is Bobb, who was brilliant again last night and came in for high praise from Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Shaun Wright-Phillips suggests Oscar Bobb has been unplayable for Man City in pre-season
City fans got some glimpses of Bobb last season following his promotion to the first-team squad by Guardiola on the recommendation of Txiki Begiristain.
He impressed coming off the bench and the hope for many was that he’d be able to kick on in 2024/25.
He has been bang at it in pre-season so there is a very good chance he will do. Indeed, Joleon Lescott said recently that Bobb had been the ‘standout performer’ out in the US.
Shaun Wright-Phillips has been out in the US with Lescott casting his eye over the team, working for the Manchester City YouTube channel.
Last night, he dropped an exciting verdict on Bobb.
He said: “No one has been able to live with him since we’ve been away on pre-season. You saw him there twisting and turning. The way he takes Levi (Colwill) down the line, which for me he shouldn’t be able to do.
“His agile movement on his body… he’s so fantastic to watch. His nice little touches he does when he comes in-field. If he keeps progressing away, we’re going to have another masterpiece on our hands.”
Bobb is so ready for a bigger role
If it was not already obvious before this game with Chelsea that Bobb is ready for a greater role in the Man City first-team in 2024/25, then it surely is now.
The Norwegian starlet has taken the bull by the horns this summer and looks every inch a young player ready to explode in the Premier League.
Chelsea put out a fairly strong team last night. But Bobb looked totally at home, and was a constant threat.
He is surely nailed on to start against Manchester United in the Community Shield, and it could well be that he starts the first Premier League game against Chelsea as well.
If he is managed correctly, then it is very possible we could be seeing a Phil Foden-style emergence from Bobb.