Since his arrival, Pep Guardiola’s team has dominated domestically. But his influence can also be seen across City’s many junior squads. Man City leads the Premier League 2 with 35 points after 17 games. The Under-21s team employs Guardiola’s tiki-taka approach, but Carlos Borges exceptional talent stands out.
The Portuguese winger, who is presently far ahead as the Premier League 2’s leading scorer, clearly drew inspiration from Erling Haaland.
Borges has scored five more goals this season than any other player in the Premier League 2. He has 14 goals in just 16 league games. Also, he has seven assists to his credit.
His great performance in the EFL Trophy and UEFA Youth League adds to his already impressive stats. The 18-year-old has 22 goals and 13 assists in 35 goal contributions across all competitions.
Because of his lightning-quick left-side movement, defenders frequently find themselves in the dust when trying to contain him.
He has scored more goals this season than any other due to his consistent placement on the left side. Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling are the ideal comparisons for Borges.
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Pundits praise Carlos Borges
As stunning as his quick feet are, so too is his positional sense. Brian Barry-Murphy, the academy coach, was overjoyed with praise for the young man after his double against Liverpool.
“He’s improving that side of his game (finishing) all the time and for me his performance today was full of leadership qualities with how he played for the team,” said Barry-Murphy.
“Liverpool have a unique way of playing with the way they look to penetrate your defensive line over and over again so there was a lot of defensive work for Carlos to do.”
“So, for me it’s really beneficial to show him the benefits of working so hard for the team and then getting the opportunities and taking them.”
Man City have been without a willing runner who performs best when the ball is in front of him. Since selling players like Sterling and Sane. The player they are pleading for might be Borges.
Of course, it is important to recognise the technical prowess of Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, and Riyad Mahrez, but Borges brings a very different element to the table.
Guardiola continues to be successful because he is prepared to modify and adapt over time. Borges will undoubtedly get his shot if he can make a strong enough impact over the following few years.
We believe Borges might be the next player to make the transition from the young squad to the first team, following in the footsteps of players like Phil Foden, Rico Lewis, and Cole Palmer.
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