Pep Guardiola lifts lid on Oscar Bobb’s Manchester City exit ahead of Fulham clash | OneFootball

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has discussed Oscar Bobb’s January departure ahead of the Fulham star’s return to his boyhood club this week.

City are searching for a third successive victory in all competitions against Fulham at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, having gained confidence from wins over Newcastle United and Liverpool in the last week.

The Blues have gained renewed hope in the title race after coming from behind to beat Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, with goals from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland ensuring Manchester City stay right on Arsenal’s heels – six points adrift of the Gunners.

Guardiola’s men are vying for silverware on all fronts in the second half of the season, having entered the Carabao Cup final – where Manchester City will play Arsenal in March at Wembley – as they also go head to head with the north Londoners for the Premier League title.

City bolstered their first-team ranks with the additions of Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi from Bournemouth and Crystal Palace respectively for a combined £84 million in January.

Max Alleyne was re-called from loan at Watford in the wake of injuries to Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in January, though Dias made his much-awaited return to action off the bench in Sunday’s monumental triumph at Anfield.

Sverre Nypan was also recalled midway through a season-long loan at Middlesbrough but while the Norwegian teenager is eligible for the Premier League, he cannot feature in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages this term.

Executives at the Etihad Stadium also sanctioned permanent exits for Stefan Ortega Moreno and Oscar Bobb, the latter leaving Manchester City after an injury-riddled first half of the season that saw him swiftly drop down the pecking order in the wide attacking areas at the Etihad Stadium.

Bobb joined Fulham for £27 million on a five-and-a-half year deal in the final week of the January window and could face his boyhood club at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

Speaking in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Guardiola was asked to reflect on the underlying reasons for Bobb’s exit and why the Norway international could not make it at Manchester City in the end.

“Oscar (Bobb), we don’t have any doubts about his potential,” Guardiola said. “It depends on him, what he wants to become. If he wants to become a top class player, he will be a top class player – he has all the attributes, all!”

Manchester City cannot afford anything less than three points against Fulham as they need to put a winning run together to maintain the pressure on Arsenal, who are in pole position to win their first Premier League title in 22 years.