THE VERDICT: OXFORD 0 CITY 3
CITY have obviously come a long way since the last time they played Oxford United, so startling has been their football journey in recent history.
Where 20 years ago they lost 2-0 at home on their slide down to the third tier of English football, fielding names such as Gerard Wiekens and Lee Bradbury, last night Pep Guardiola was able to call on one of the best Spanish players of his generation – and pack a formidable bench.
But it is the difference from just 12 months ago that should startle City’s rivals as they pick apart a comfortable 3-0 Carabao Cup win.
Last year at this stage the manager fielded his reserve centre-backs and holding midfielder in the third round, and Eliaquim Mangala, Tosin Adarabioyo and Yaya Toure were fortunate to end up on the winning team after a gruelling evening against an impressive Wolves team.
Guardiola did the same against Oxford, only now the trio resembles Vincent Kompany, Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones. If there remains a Jorginho-shaped hole in the squad, Stones was competent against the League One side as he looked comfortable breaking play up and ticking the game over.
Even if they didn’t all enjoy their best games, that serves as a greater sign of squad power than a star-studded bench.
If the Blues have clearly come a significant way in 12 months, will Brahim Diaz still be a part of the project in September 2019?
His signing was seen as a coup when he came to Manchester over Madrid or Barcelona, but the 19-year-old is into the final year of his contract, and the sight of 17-year-old Adria Bernabe on the bench was a reminder of the emerging talent from the academy.
On his first appearance of the season, Brahim shone the brightest and got his reward when he latched onto a lovely Phil Foden floated diagonal to tee-up Gabriel Jesus for the opening
goal. Simon Bajkowski That made Guardiola’s team talk a little easier after a first half in which the cup holders – and in particular Riyad Mahrez and his endless stepovers – had looked the part without seriously testing Oxford. City put their name 34 11 None Jesus (36), Mahrez (78) Foden (90+2) 29% 71% 1 1 11,956 Garbutt, Dickie Danilo Roger East in the hat for the next round after giving keeper Aro Muric a comfortable first appearance for the club.
With Aleks Zinchenko, Danilo, Foden and Diaz also making their first starts of the season and Mahrez, Otamendi and Kompany racking up more minutes, the idea is that the team will be stronger in future games.
Mahrez finished off another lovely Foden through ball to make life comfortable for the closing stages – allowing Guardiola to give 17-year-old Bernabe a City debut – and Foden added gloss to the scoreline with a goal that should further boost his confidence.