When Manchester City lost star striker Sergio Aguero, it was clear they needed to find a worthy replacement.
This is despite coach Pep Guardiola’s tearful admission that “We cannot replace him.”
However, for Guardiola there was no immediate solution and City played the 2021/22 season without a recognised striker, often playing a creative midfielder in the role commonly labelled the “false nine”.
And while many felt City would struggle not having an out-and-out striker in the role, the team flourished, winning the Premier League on the final day of the season.
Despite being somewhat successful (their Champions League run was unsuccessful), City still clearly needed a striker and there was no better man than Erling Haaland.
The young Norwegian was taking the world by storm and scoring goal after goal in Germany with Borussia Dortmund.
City pushed to make the youngster their next marquee signing and they got their man – striking fear into the rest of the league.
That fear persisted with the start Haaland had at City, scoring 20 Premier League goals in only 14 games and breaking the record in the process.
Some even felt and probably still feel Haaland may go on to break the all-time goal-scoring record currently held by Alan Shearer with 260 goals.
But the situation has taken a turn for the worse, City have not been at their usual ruthless best in recent weeks and that could be down to Haaland himself.
Losing one game is strange enough for City, let alone losing two in the same week. They lost first to bottom-of-the-league Southampton in the FA Cup before being bested by Man United in the Manchester Derby.
The reason why Haaland may be the problem is that he simply might not suit the football Guardiola implements in his teams.
Haaland is a brilliant striker, making runs in behind and being as lethal as possible in front of the goal.
However, he lacks creativity. Haaland is not accustomed to taking on two or three players or even dropping deep and getting involved in the buildup play.
Haaland rarely touches the ball during fixtures, so much so that the 22-year-old previously said if he could touch the ball five times and score five times, that would be ideal.
But City may need Haaland to get more involved with the buildup to allow the team to break down their opponents more definitively.
“At the moment we have that process because when teams are sitting in their 18-yard box, it is more difficult. But, yes, we have to find him a little bit more,” Guardiola said about Haaland getting more involved, following the derby defeat.
Haaland is without a doubt one of the best players in the world, scoring 26 goals in only 21 fixtures this season, but a slight adjustment to his play style might work wonders for City’s hopes of success this season.
Pictured above: Erling Haaland
Image source: The Athletic
