Pep Guardiola says that City youngsters Oscar Bobb and James McAtee are ‘adored’ by their team-mates which shows they have what is required to be a success at the Club.
Match Report
City hold nerve in penalty shoot-out to win 2024 Community Shield
Both players started at Wembley as we lifted the Community Shield with a 7-6 penalty shoot-out victory over Manchester United to kick off the new season with more silverware.
McAtee, who spent last season on loan at Premier League Club Sheffield United, made his first start for Pep Guardiola’s side and impressed as an attacking midfielder, almost putting City ahead in the first half with a curling strike that hit the post.
Fellow Academy player Bobb showed his qualities in last season’s title-winning campaign and created the 89th minute equaliser for Bernardo Silva against United after neat work with new signing Savinho.
Guardiola says he knows their abilities and believes they can make a big impact in the new campaign.
“They have the standards that we have,” the City boss said when asked if they were good enough to be a major part of the squad.
“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. The 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.”
Bobb was outstanding on the preseason tour to the United States and Guardiola has no doubts about his talent.
But he has challenged him to deliver even more, particularly with the squad still getting back up to speed after a busy summer.
“We want more,” Pep added. “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.”
Despite a tough season for the Blades last season, Guardiola believes he will have gained a lot from his experience at Bramall Lane.
And he said that he has asked Director of Football Txiki Begiristain to keep him at the club this season.
“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.”
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