Man City friendly serves up Pep Guardiola curveball to keep fans guessing

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Manchester City are keen to see how their team will line up on the opening day of the season at Wolves in the Premier League

Rico Lewis was sent off in the closing stages of Manchester City's win over Wydad AC

Manchester City beat Preston on Saturday in a friendly as they continue preparations for the new season. With kick-off at Wolves in their first Premier League match less than two weeks away, the Blues picked up a 1-0 win over the Championship side.

Most of the details remain a mystery though. We don't know whether it was a barnstorming performance that saw the Preston keeper have the game of his life, or a scrappy match that could have had a different winner.

City played the game behind closed doors for a reason - unlike their upcoming match with Palermo next Saturday - and it is deliberate that there aren't loads of details about the match. Pep Guardiola does not like revealing his plans when he doesn't have to.

One bit of information that instantly adds intrigue to those plans though is the players involved in the goal. Rico Lewis was the only one on the scoresheet, with Oscar Bobb getting the assist.

If fans were picking their starting XIs for the Wolves game, it is fair to say that Lewis or Bobb would only feature in a fraction of them and barely any - if any - would have both in it. City are into double figures for new arrivals in 2025 and that fresh wave has got supporters dreaming of a new era after disappointment last season.

Lewis is tied to the difficulties of the last 12 months and the lack of a new right-back at the club. He played well enough in the opening Club World Cup game, only to get a harsh red card at the end of it that resulted in him missing the next three games of the tournament - by which point City were out.

Bobb was the outstanding player of pre-season last year and looked set for a terrific campaign, only to suffer a leg fracture on the eve of it that basically wiped out any hopes he had of making an impact. He has pledged to stay and fight for his place, although the competition has only grown stiffer.

The lack of details around the friendly mean more information around the goal can only be speculated about. Lewis and Bobb could have been substitutes, or on a 'B team', or the benefactories of a brilliant bit of skill - or they both could have played in an 'A team' all game and the goal was deserved for their efforts in bossing the play.

As fans wait with bated breath and hope of a fresh start for City when they head to Molineux in two weeks, it remains to be seen how many of the new signings will be thrown straight in.

With places up for grabs all over the pitch, Bobb and Lewis could have played their way into the team to throw up a curveball for the opening day.

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