On Saturday, Yankee Stadium welcomed a Norwegian sensation, and while it might not have been what they initially hoped for, it was certainly what they wanted.
The crowd erupted when Erling Haaland scored, but it’s his compatriot Oscar Bobb who’s been stealing the show on tour. Bobb has now racked up three assists and a goal against Celtic in three games.
Haaland, despite being on a two-game winning streak in preseason, has had a slower start.
Bobb, meanwhile, is setting the standard in the US, just as he did in Asia last year. Pep Guardiola attributes Manchester City’s current success to Bobb and considers him a lock for the first team this season.
Known for his ability to maneuver out of tight situations, Bobb is showcasing his one-on-one skills. This was evident in his assist to Haaland against Celtic, reminiscent of his play with Maximo Perrone.
In just 113 minutes, the Haaland-Bobb partnership has produced four of City’s five preseason goals, demonstrating a strong connection between the two, especially valuable with many of Guardiola’s top attackers still on vacation.
However, Guardiola was visibly frustrated with his inexperienced full-backs on the field. Celtic managed to score three goals in a row, and Ederson allowed the ball through his body twice.
Despite being recalled after Guardiola emphasized the need for his goalkeeper, Ederson had a mixed tour, with rumors about his attitude at the end of the season lingering.
Micah Hamilton, who came on during the half, assisted McAtee in tying the score. Like Bobb, Hamilton will benefit from scoring a few goals this month, supporting Guardiola’s transfer policy.
The event drew a crowd of 46,000, primarily City supporters despite New York’s sizable Italian community.
Covered baseball mounds occupied a fourth of the field, highlighting the venue’s non-football nature. Pep Guardiola had lengthy pre-game conversations with Milan manager Paolo Fonseca and a brief chat with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
While Ibrahimovic used to be the main attraction at such events, Haaland has taken that role commercially. However, it’s Bobb who’s currently dominating every time he steps on the field in the US.
