“Will we see more of you this season?” the TV interviewer asked Oscar Bobb after Manchester City’s Community Shield victory on Saturday.
“I hope so,” was the reply.
In this scenario, and with the departure of Julián Álvarez, one might think so.
The City youngster was the City striker who had the most touches against Manchester United.
Bobb also created the most chances and assisted Bernardo Silva for the equalizer.
Oscar Bobb pictured (right) dribbling past Kobbie Mainoo during Saturday’s match at Wembley
This is Bobb’s touch map of his very busy and impressive Community Shield campaign.
Bobb (right) pictured posing with the Community Shield alongside (left to right) Nico O’Reilly, Rico Lewis and James McAtee
Three months ago, United won the FA Cup final. Not here.
And yet the performance of Erik ten Hag’s side, albeit in a glorified friendly, was much closer to City’s level than the last time they met at Wembley.
Of course, none of this matters. City’s victory will not determine whether Pep Guardiola secures a fifth consecutive title.
History shows that this rarely happens. Only one of the last 13 Community Shield winners has gone on to lift the Premier League trophy at the end of the season (that was City, of course).
In fact, only eight teams have won the Community Shield and league double in the 32 years of the Premier League: Man City (2018-19), Man Utd (1993-94, 1996-97, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11), Chelsea (2005-06, 2009-10)
Match statistics from last season’s FA Cup final (left) and Saturday’s Community Shield (right) suggest United actually performed better this time around, despite the result.
Only once in the last 13 seasons has the Community Shield winner gone on to win the league.
City’s win, meanwhile, is the fifth time in the last eight years that the Community Shield has been decided on penalties.
City’s bid to retain their Premier League title begins next Sunday against Chelsea.
