Manchester City youngsters shine to complete Champions League clean sweep
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Manchester City's Micah Hamilton scores his team's first goal against Red Star Belgrade.
PHOTO: AFP
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BELGRADE – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola heaped praise on his youngsters as Micah Hamilton and Oscar Bobb scored their first goals for the club in a 3-2 Champions League win at Red Star Belgrade on Dec 13.
The victory also meant that the defending champions have completed a perfect group stage with six wins from six.
City had already secured their place in the last 16 as Group G winners, allowing Guardiola the luxury to make nine changes – midfielder Hamilton and winger Bobb, who are both 20, were two of the youngsters given their chance.
A picture of Hamilton receiving instructions from Guardiola as a ball boy in 2017 went viral ahead of kick-off. He duly rewarded his manager’s faith to start him in the game by firing high past Omri Glazer from a narrow angle on 19 minutes.
“What a goal and what a game. I am so happy for him. He is training well, we saw his skills. He made a fantastic goal. Defensively he was aggressive. Congratulations to our academy for how many players came up and how many we sell,” Guardiola said.
Goalkeeper True Grant and defender Max Alleyne also travelled with the squad and Guardiola said that he was tempted to bring on the latter in the second half but stopped short because of the back-and-forth nature of the game.
“It’s not easy to get opportunities at this level because in big clubs you don’t wait,” the City boss said.
“In the end, we wanted to put Max on but the game was not under control. It’s a compliment to the academy. Cole Palmer was here. Romeo Lavia, James Trafford, (Gavin) Bazunu.
“Many players in our academy are in the English Premier League or the Championship. It is top class.”
Bobb has featured more prominently in first-team squads this season and the Norwegian’s solo run and cool finish doubled City’s lead early in the second half.
Red Star had only pride to play for as they were guaranteed to finish bottom of the group before kick-off.
Manchester City’s Oscar Bobb scores the team’s second goal.
PHOTO: AFP
Hwang In-beom pulled a goal back for the Serbian champions. However, Hamilton impressed once more as he won a penalty and Kalvin Phillips stepped up to score his first City goal five minutes from time.
Aleksandar Katai struck for Red Star in stoppage time, but City held on to become just the second English side to win all six Champions League group games after Liverpool in 2021-22.
Red Star finished with just one point, while RB Leipzig (12 points), who were through to the last 16 as group runners-up, ended with a 2-1 win over Young Boys (four).
There was more good news for Guardiola as he was among the finalists for The Best Fifa men’s coach award, world football’s governing body announced on the same day.
He will be up against Simone Inzaghi, who led Inter Milan to the Champions League final while they also lifted the Coppa Italia, and Luciano Spalletti, who ended Napoli’s 33-year Scudetto drought when they won the Serie A title.
Guardiola is a firm favourite after City won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League titles last season.
The winners will be crowned on Jan 15 in London. AFP, REUTERS
