BREAKING NEWS: Pep Guardiola has suggested that a standout performer from the pre-season could earn a first-team spot. After just two games on their pre-season tour, Guardiola plans to give him more playing time, indicating that he might have found a new regular starter.

On Saturday, around 80,000 people gathered at Yankee Stadium to watch Norwegian sensation Erling Haaland, but it was another Norwegian, Oscar Bobb, who truly shone. Although Haaland scored and received the loudest cheers, Bobb was the standout player, contributing another assist to bring his tally to three in two games, along with a goal against Celtic. Haaland also maintained his impressive form with two goals in two games, indicating a strong upcoming season.

However, Bobb was the real star of Manchester City’s U.S. tour, much like he was in Asia last year. Pep Guardiola praised Bobb, suggesting that City doesn’t need more players because of his contributions, positioning him as a potential first-team starter this season.

Bobb gained recognition last season for his skillful escapes from tight situations. Now, he’s showcasing his one-on-one abilities, a skill set that Guardiola has noted is also strong in players like Savinho and Jeremy Doku. The crowd enjoyed Bobb’s moves, especially when he created space and assisted Haaland’s goal.

While Maximo Perrone’s goal against Celtic featured a similar setup, it was Bobb’s vision that orchestrated it, though he narrowly missed scoring himself in a promising attack.

Four of Manchester City’s five preseason goals have come from the partnership between Haaland and Bobb, highlighting their understanding of each other’s play.

This connection is crucial, especially since many of Guardiola’s key forwards are still on vacation. However, the match also exposed defensive issues, particularly when Celtic scored three similar goals in North Carolina.

Guardiola was visibly frustrated with his young full-backs, notably Rico Lewis and Callum Doyle, for failing to prevent crosses and allowing Lorenzo Colombo to score twice.

Ederson, City’s goalkeeper, struggled as well, conceding three goals despite making two significant saves earlier. His performance was a concern, but Guardiola kept him on to emphasize his role as the team’s primary goalkeeper.

Midfielder Mikael Hamilton, who came on at halftime, also impressed by setting up McAtee’s goal to level the score, bolstering his case for more playing time. The strong support for City among the 46,000 attendees was evident, despite the presence of many Italians in New York.

The iconic baseball venue, not ideally suited for football, hosted a meeting between Guardiola and Milan manager Paolo Fonseca, as well as a brief interaction with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Despite these distractions, Haaland remained a key attraction, but Bobb has been the standout performer on this U.S. tour.