Pep Guardiola believes that ‘adored’ Manchester City duo Oscar Bobb and James McAtee are ready to make a big impact in the first team this season.
Pep Guardiola believes that ‘adored’ Manchester City duo Oscar Bobb and James McAtee are ready to make a big impact in the first team this season.
Both players got plenty of minutes under their belts during pre-season and their promising performances were rewarded with starts at Wembley as the Citizens lifted the Community Shield with a 7-6 penalty-shootout win over Manchester United on Saturday.
Alejandro Garnacho put the Red Devils ahead after 82 minutes, but Man City restored parity with one minute of normal time remaining, with Man of the Match Bobb delivering an accurate cross into the penalty area for substitute Bernardo Silva – celebrating his 30th birthday – to power home a header and force the contest to penalties.
Bernardo failed to convert City’s first effort from 12 yards, but Guardiola’s men eventually prevailed in the shootout, with Manuel Akanji netting the decisive spot kick to secure the club’s seventh Community Shield and first since 2019.
Man City triumphed despite the absence of several senior stars, most notably Rodri, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and John Stones who are all scheduled to report back to training next week after enjoying an extended summer break.
Both Bobb and McAtee wee subsequently presented with a chance to impress in the first team on Saturday and Guardiola was full of praise for the academy duo, who have shown what is required to be successful at the club in the eyes of the Catalan coach.
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Guardiola: ‘Man City teammates can rely on Bobb, McAtee’
Asked if the two 21-year-olds are good enough to be a major part of Man City’s senior squad this season, Guardiola told reporters: “They have the standards that we have.
“I know them, especially McAtee, from a long time ago. We saw Oscar last season. They have the confidence from their mates. They adore them. They can rely on them.
“Oscar make a fantastic game in the States. Macca’s first two games in the US were not good but every game he is better and today was closer to the McAtee he can be.”
Guardiola has challenged Bobb to raise his game even more following a bright pre-season campaign and Wembley outing, adding: “We want more. Sometimes he had the chance to take the ball and go and he was a little bit passive.
“He has something unique; be stopped then go, first one or two steps, right or left are unbelievable.
“The goal, how he turns and make the cross, huge quality. He has incredible values and work ethic. He has the ability to do it and he can do it more regularly.”
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Guardiola confirms McAtee will stay at Man City
Meanwhile, Guardiola has confirmed that he has requested director of football Txiki Begiristain to not send McAtee out on loan for a third successive season after spending the previous two campaigns with Sheffield United.
“He knows all the processes,” he said. “I think his period in Sheffield helped him a lot to give him value to how difficult football is. To win points. It helped him a lot.
“When you play in the small spaces, attack the goal, McAtee has this quality in small spaces. That’s why I said to Txiki I don’t want to loan him out because we need him.”
Both Bobb and McAtee will be hoping to force their way into Guardiola’s starting lineup when Man City travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in their opening Premier League fixture of the new season on August 18.
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