Pep Guardiola Faces Challenge Resolving Man City’s Erling Haaland Issue

Pep Guardiola faces a considerable challenge as he seeks to manage Erling Haaland’s workload amid a scoring slump. The Manchester City manager expressed his reliance on the striker, despite Haaland’s recent drop in form, having scored only one goal in the last seven matches. In stark contrast, he netted 24 goals in his first 23 appearances this season.

Pep Guardiola’s Reliance on Erling Haaland

Haaland has featured prominently for Manchester City, making 30 appearances this season. This makes him one of the most utilized players on the squad, second only to Tijjani Reijnders, who has played 31 times. Haaland has accumulated 2,480 minutes on the pitch, outpacing his teammates by 239 minutes. Remarkably, he has only been substituted once this season.

Striker Dilemma Amid Injury Concerns

• Haaland is the only senior specialist striker in the team.
• Guardiola views Omar Marmoush as a potential alternative.
• Marmoush is currently unavailable due to participation in the Africa Cup of Nations.
• He missed a penalty in a third-place play-off against Nigeria.

Guardiola will not have Marmoush available for the upcoming Champions League match against Bodo/Glimt. His absence leaves a gap in City’s attacking options. Guardiola acknowledged Haaland’s importance to the team’s success, stating, “We need Erling and we need all of them.”

Upcoming Challenges for Manchester City

The schedule ahead includes a pressing journey to Norway, where City will face Bodo/Glimt. Guardiola is keen on monitoring not just the players’ physical recovery but also their mental state. “I can smell how they feel,” he remarked, highlighting the importance of players’ morale.

Injury Updates and New Signings

Phil Foden is also a concern for Manchester City after he sustained a possible broken hand during the recent Manchester derby. Meanwhile, the club added winger Antoine Semenyo for £62.5 million this month. However, he will be ineligible for their next two Champions League fixtures.

Guardiola is optimistic about getting Marmoush back soon, praising his potential impact on the squad. Nevertheless, he cautioned against using player absences as excuses for past performances, emphasizing fairness to those still contributing. The focus remains on overcoming the current challenges and ensuring the team performs at its best in the upcoming matches.