Manchester City were beaten again on their USA tour on Saturday night as AC Milan edged the Premier League champions 3-2 in New York.
Erling Haaland gave Pep Guardiola’s side the lead but Lorenzo Colombo’s quick-fire brace put the Italians ahead at half time.
James McAtee headed home from close range to level things up again before Marco Nasti’s precise finish wrapped up the scoring at Yankee Stadium.
Here, Mail Sport takes you through five things we learned…
Marco Nasti’s precise finish ensured AC Milan beat Manchester City in New York on Saturday
Bobb’s a welcome problem for Pep
Given the lack of seasoned professionals, and effectively the real backbone of this successful Manchester City team through the years, the 2024 tour is one where those on the fringes can stake a claim.
It’s a bit unfair to suggest that Oscar Bobb is part of that group – without his late winner at Newcastle United, City wouldn’t have won last season’s title – but there is still another level to reach and he’s doing himself no harm in the States.
A goal and two assists in the first friendly were followed up by a dazzling first-half display against AC Milan in New York. Bobb superbly assisted Erling Haaland for City’s opener, cruising beyond defenders before finding the perfect pass, and looked a threat for most of the night.
Bobb’s command of the ball from the right wing, that silk first touch reminiscent of Riyad Mahrez and a consistent final ball, will give Pep Guardiola selection problems this term. His only blot was a miss before half time when racing through at the end of a smart move he started.
City have landed Savinho, who says his preferred position is wide right, and that could prove a proper battle between the two youngsters. It could also free up Bernardo Silva to operate more centrally, which offers further options for Guardiola.
Is Ederson’s head in the game?
Haaland was very magnanimous on the eve of this game when asked how proud a moment it was leading City out as captain before the defeat against Celtic in North Carolina.
It’d mean next to nothing to him but Haaland happily went along with the idea of its significance to placate his audience. ‘Proud, very proud.’
A good job it’s not a big deal because Ederson was given the privilege at the Yankee Stadium. He’d started the Celtic friendly on the bench – coming on at the break – as talks over his future continue behind the scenes.
Ederson has made it clear to City that he would like to pursue opportunities elsewhere but the Saudi Pro League’s Al-Ittihad have gone nowhere near to matching the £50million valuation.
The Brazilian made clear in a statement earlier this week that he is now focusing on the new season and there appears to be an acceptance that interested parties are very unlikely to be in a position to finance a deal.
But he could have had a better night, conceding three times and Guardiola wasn’t particularly happy with the way in which Milan scored their third through Marco Nasti. A video nasty for Ederson, who failed to palm away an effort he ought to have kept out. Guardiola spun to the bench in mild anger.
Pep Guardiola was far from impressed with what he saw from Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson
McAtee has a role to play
We will see in the fullness of time whether James McAtee does remain a City player before the end of August. He certainly talked up that idea the other day, and Guardiola publicly called on him to stay put.
And it is obvious what City see in McAtee, who has been at the club since the age of nine.
Guardiola doesn’t have many midfielders who are constantly willing to run beyond Haaland (or Julian Alvarez) and pick up those poached goals that Ilkay Gundogan used to collect with abandon.
That’s exactly what McAtee managed against Milan, running off the back of a defender to head home a perfect cross from the lively Micah Hamilton.
While McAtee – who said he is ‘not fussed’ about the amount of minutes he is given this season – is likely to play a bit-part, that sort of movement does potentially give Guardiola an extra option from the bench.
James McAtee scored a second-half header and he gives something different in City’s midfield
Fatah’s a threat
The name Amar Fatah might not be overly familiar and that is with good reason. He’s a 20-year-old Sweden youth international who is here, quite unusually, as a trialist.
Fatah is contracted to Troyes (whom City bought Savinho from) and has been in Manchester doing rehabilitation on an injury over the summer. Having spent time on loan at another City Football Group club, Lommel, Fatah has clearly caught the eye.
He was invited to join the Premier League champions for a few weeks – presumably with a look at loaning him out for the season – and there were some bright moments in his first 23-minute cameo.
Not a prolific scorer by any stretch but the forward is a strong runner and possesses a good eye for a pass. He’ll probably represent a decent pick up for somebody before the transfer window shuts.
City’s maroon third kit was released in New York this week and it was given its first run out
Franco Baresi and Shaun Wright-Phillips visited a session held at Sofive Meadowlands
City are all the rage in New York
City’s maroon third kit was released in New York this week and it was given its first run out for the second half as part of a joint initiative with Milan.
The club are auctioning off the strips worn in the friendly to raise money for a community project in the area, spanning five boroughs, and City are donating €12,500 to local programmes.
Franco Baresi and Shaun Wright-Phillips also visited a session held at Sofive Meadowlands in New Jersey on Friday.
It’s seemed a positive trip to the Big Apple, with this a 46,000 sell out – although such is the way sport is consumed in America, hundreds were still meandering in at half time.