Pep Guardiola has revealed he considered handing Oscar Bobb a start for Manchester City against Sheffield United yesterday over Jack Grealish.
City made it back-to-back wins in the Premier League as they defeat the Blades 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
Rodri and Julian Alvarez were on target for the hosts, and City are now just two points behind Liverpool, who play against Newcastle United tomorrow.
It was a comfortable performance by City and fans were treated to another superb Oscar Bobb cameo.
The youngster replaced Jack Grealish early in the second-half – and Pep has since said that he actually nearly started the Norwegian…
Pep Guardiola says Oscar Bobb nearly started for Manchester City against Sheffield United
Bobb replaced Grealish and the initial impression was that Grealish was struggling with a knock.
But after the game, Guardiola said the decision was a tactical one, and that he wanted more speed. Grealish had exerted himself a lot in the win over Everton, and it seems this was a factor in Grealish being hooked fairly early after the restart.
Pep said (via Hayters TV): “It was an incredible effort from Jack. The last two or three days have been really really tough. His performance at Goodison Park… he was maybe the best player on the pitch. The impact was really tough, it’s not been easy for him.
“I was doubting a lot about whether to start Oscar from the beginning. Not in the position of Jack, in another position. But after what we saw in the first-half, in the second I said ‘OK, Oscar…’ Because he’s an incredibly good runner, good finishing, sense of goal, assists, in the small spaces he’s really good too, and so aggressive without the ball. He regained two or three balls. He helped us.”
In the end, Bobb did replace Grealish directly on the left wing.
A great cameo from Bobb
So Bobb didn’t quite get the nod from Pep from the start, but he definitely made the most of his time on the pitch when he replaced Grealish.
The little pass he played through for Phil Foden – who branded Bobb ‘an unbelievable player’ recently – who then crossed for Julian Alvarez to score, was just superb.
He injected a bit of life into City and it was just yet more evidence that he is ready for more minutes at Premier League level.
Whenever he takes to the field, he looks completely comfortable in that shirt and surrounded by those top players. You would not really think this is his debut season.
Pep always sounds like he’s pleased with him, and hopefully in 2024 we will be seeing him taking to the pitch much more often.
