BREAKING NEWS: “I’ve been impressed with them during the preseason, and they’ll be part of my starting lineup,” says Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola, confirming two new first-team players for the club.

After evaluating his academy talents in the USA, Pep Guardiola is set to return to Manchester with two new first-team players. Following a summer filled with international commitments, Guardiola led a youthful Manchester City squad on a tour of the States, as most senior players remained on vacation.

One advantage of this setup, according to Guardiola, is the chance to assess how the club’s top young talents perform in a first-team environment.

However, he has previously expressed frustration about not being able to implement new strategies during the tour.

Initially, Guardiola aimed to integrate five or six young players into the team, but he has since narrowed it down to just two: Nico O’Reilly and James McAtee. O’Reilly, who impressed with a goal against Barcelona, continued to shine in his fourth start of the summer against Chelsea, earning praise for his performance.

Similarly, McAtee contributed significantly by providing two assists in the second half of the same match, adding to his goal scored against AC Milan.

Guardiola commented on the progress of his players, stating, “Every game was far better than the one before it.” He noted the development of players like Kalvin Phillips and Erling Haaland, while mentioning that Jack Grealish played limited minutes.

Guardiola also highlighted the impressive performances of Rico Lewis and Oscar Bobb, stating that McAtee is starting to realize his footballing potential, and that O’Reilly has also performed well.

Throughout the tour, all young players had the opportunity to gain some playing time. Notably, 16-year-old Stephen Mfuni made his debut, showcasing the club’s commitment to youth development.

Guardiola indicated that some players would transition to the first team, while others would either join the second team or go out on loan, with hopes they would return stronger next season.

Ultimately, Guardiola confirmed that both McAtee and O’Reilly will be included in the first team moving forward. He noted that the other young talents are not yet ready to compete at that level and will need time to develop, whether that means playing for the second team or gaining experience through loan spells. The future of these players depends on their ongoing growth and readiness to step up into the first team.

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