Pep Guardiola is right City depend on Erling Haaland’s goals but it can’t be City’s only option | OneFootball

As it stands, currently Manchester City is over-reliant on Erling Haaland’s goals. City’s number 9 is City’s only reliable goal threat. For a host of reasons, the world champions lack a consistent goal threat outside of the Norwegian international. Pep Guardiola addressed that point during pre-game press conference ahead of tomorrow night’s Champions League fixture against Feyenoord. While Pep Guardiola is right any team would be reliant on Erling Haaland’s goals, at the moment City have become too reliant on their star striker.

The City manager was asked about City’s reliance on Haaland during his pre-game press conference earlier today. He was quick to defend his star striker as he explained: “He finds the target. Sometimes the keeper saves it. Reason is not Erling. Without Erling we would be in more trouble. Without wingers, we have four or five but just one available. Phil was so productive last season and this season has struggled with some niggles and some injuries. After Erling, we have John, Josko and Kova as top scorers; that is not normal. We have to survive. We have to create more chances. We are lucky that we have Erling. Every game he has three or four chances. One day he will score two or three like he has done since he arrived. Tell me one team that would not be dependent on Erling scoring goals. Norway is dependent on Erling as well?”

Pep Guardiola’s point is valid but Haaland’s teammates must step up starting against Feyenoord.

Pep Guardiola makes a valid point. Any team would rely on Erling Haaland’s goals. That is what Haaland is paid to do. Score goals. He does it better than nearly every other striker in world football. There will be days when he doesn’t score, but more often than not he is there when his team needs him. That has been the story of Erling Haaland’s career and his time at Manchester City. But this season is a different situation entirely.

The world champions have become over-reliant on Erling Haaland finding the back of the net. Outside of their number 9, City is lacking a consistent goal threat. The loss of Julian Alvarez has hurt Pep Guardiola’s side. Phil Foden has been off the boil for the majority of this season. Those two factors alone are hurting Manchester City. Then you factor in the fact that De Bruyne has been out injured and that Jeremy Doku and Savinho aren’t yet reliable goal-scorers. It’s turned into a situation where it’s Haaland or bust for Manchester City. That isn’t sustainable and it needs to be rectified sooner rather than later.

Pep Guardiola is right. Any team would be reliant on Haaland’s goals. That’s the reality of having the world’s best striker in your squad. But City have gone too far in becoming over-reliant on Haaland. They need to get that balance right going forward as they bid to get back to winning ways. The sooner they find consistent support for Haaland the quicker they may return to form as a team as well as rectifying a host of other issues they face.