Guardiola Praises City Wingers Despite AC Milan Defeat
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola shared insights into his expectations for his wingers following their narrow 3-2 loss to AC Milan in a pre-season friendly.
During a Q&A session with fans in New York, Guardiola addressed criticisms about a perceived shift away from traditional, “flairy” wingers at City. The questioner pointed out that players like Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva, who played key roles during City’s treble-winning season in 2023, are more about control and finesse rather than speed and flair. Guardiola acknowledged this shift, which has seen the departure of more pacey wingers like Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling. However, he emphasized his appreciation for direct play, evidenced by the signing of Jeremy Doku and the acquisition of Savinho from Troyes for £21 million.
In the friendly against AC Milan, young talents Oscar Bobb and Micah Hamilton showcased impressive dribbling and created goal-scoring opportunities, reflecting the directness Guardiola admires. Despite the loss, their performances were a positive takeaway for the manager.
Grealish and Silva remain key players, but Guardiola highlighted the importance of having a diverse set of wingers. “With Jack and Bernardo they’re different types of wingers, for sure,” he said. “But if we need another type, of course look at Micah, look at the action he’s done. He arrived, byline, perfect cross and [James McAtee] header.”
Guardiola stressed that wingers’ primary roles are to facilitate play and win one-on-one or two-on-one battles. “Wingers are there to make the process with the ball and dribble one vs one and two vs one, they have to compete with each other. The guys who produce, the more chances they have to play.”
Hamilton and Bobb, bolstered by Guardiola’s praise, will continue their tour in the U.S. and then back to England, hopeful that their performances could earn them first-team opportunities at the Etihad. As City gears up for matches against Barcelona and Chelsea, these youngsters have a golden chance to solidify their places in Guardiola’s plans.
