Manchester City’s first team is in the United States for their pre-season training tour, and 21-year-old rising star Oscar Bob has been the standout player. After contributing one goal and three assists across two games, Bob gave an interview to the media. The Norwegian talent revealed that Guardiola’s Barcelona provided significant inspiration and considers compatriot teammate Erling Haaland the best player in the world today.
Bob had already established himself as a key member of Manchester City last season, making 26 appearances throughout the campaign. This season, Bob stands to get even more playing time, allowing him to make an even greater contribution to the team. He disclosed that he admired Guardiola’s tactical approach from a young age and was a devoted fan of the treble-winning Barcelona side coached by Guardiola.
Bob said, “I had TV channels at home that broadcast La Liga live, so I watched all the games coached by the head coach (Guardiola) at Barcelona. I would watch the live broadcasts with my mom. I liked their best dribblers and attackers, like Messi, Iniesta, etc…”
Since joining the academy in 2019, Bob has excelled since his promotion to the first team. His partnership with compatriot Haaland is steadily improving, which is very encouraging for everyone at Manchester City. The industry believes Bob could be the next Foden.
Bob believes he still needs to work hard to continue progressing. He said, “The head coach knows which position will help me learn more, when to speed up and when to slow down. I know it’s difficult, but it’s a necessary process. I want to play more games, but first, I need to earn my place on the pitch.”
Bob also firmly believes that Haaland is the most outstanding player in the world right now. He said, “Playing alongside Erling? I just try to adapt to his game. He’s the best player in the world, so I’ll try to give him the ball as much as possible. I don’t know if it’s a natural choice, maybe it’s just his personal charm. We work hard together in training, and he teaches me a lot about the game. I know that if I deliver a good pass, he can turn it into a goal. Playing with him is always easy; he’s one of the best players in the world, and it’s an honor to play with him.”