NATHANAEL Ogbeta has trained under Pep Guardiola but has been amazed by the level of detail he is getting from Conor Hourihane and his staff at Barnsley.
The 24-year-old came through Manchester City’s academy and left in 2021, having trained with the first team under Guardiola who has won the Premier League title six times.
After spells at several EFL clubs, he joined the Reds on loan for the season from Plymouth Argyle and has been Hourihane’s first choice left-back.
Ogbeta told the Chronicle: “It’s amazing. I have come from a really high pedigree of academy football at Man City, being able to train with the first team and Pep.
“The detail of coaching has never been a surprise to me but to get this level of detail, focus and commitment to the game that the gaffer has shown, it gives me energy. He wants to win in the right way and also develop players. Him and all the coaches are having a massive impact on me and a lot of other players who are improving a lot.”
Left-back Ogbeta has sometimes been the furthest forward of all Barnsley’s players.
He said: “This is a bit crazy because I am playing left-back. I started off playing left wing-back when I was at Shrewsbury and Swansea.
“It’s definitely the highest I have ever been. So there’s been a lot of learning in trying to keep my discipline – when to run in behind, when to come short. It’s a new position in a sense for me but the staff have filled me with so much information to make my job a lot easier. I am working with the analysts and doing things to improve my game and it’s showing on the pitch.
“The state of the game has a big impact. When it’s the last ten or 15 minutes, sometimes the wingers kind of cheat and they are waiting for me to go forward so they can capitalise on the counter. I have to be more cautious then but, early on when we have momentum, the manager wants me on the last line constantly.”
Ogbeta registered his first league assist for Barnsley in Saturday’s win over Reading, cushioning a volleyed cross for Davis Keillor-Dunn to head in after being picked out brilliantly by Luca Connell.
“Before I came in, the gaffer’s big aim for me was to get as many assists as possible. He wanted to get me in the right areas to really affect the game. I am really grateful I was able to get my first league assist. It’s a good feeling to get off the mark and I just want to help the team as much as I can going forward and defensively.”
Reading’s first goal in their 3-2 loss was scored by Jack Marriott after Barnsley goalkeeper Murphy Cooper ran out of his box and missed the ball.
Ogbeta said: “Murphy is such a strong character, stuff like that doesn’t get him down at all.
“You saw in the second half he made some massive saves.
“He always has massive moments.
“We want to play on the front foot and have a high line. Sometimes you will have moments like that. It didn’t go his way but no one is mad at him because we know how we want to play. He’s been awesome for us.”
