Pep Guardiola has made an honest admission about the growing pressure on Erling Haaland to deliver for Manchester City, acknowledging that his side have become overly reliant on the Norwegian striker for goals.Haaland has been Manchester City’s main source of goals this season, scoring 15 times in all competitions as the reigning champions continue their push for a fifth Premier League title under Guardiola. However, questions are mounting about whether City’s heavy dependence on their star striker is sustainable throughout a long campaign.
Guardiola Admits Over-Reliance on Haaland
With Julian Alvarez having joined Atletico Madrid last summer, Haaland has carried much of the team’s attacking responsibility alone. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth, Guardiola addressed the situation directly.
“We have an alternative,” Guardiola explained. “Like against Swansea – I didn’t let him play. The other players have to score the goals when he’s not playing, that’s the balance we need to find.”
The manager went on to stress that City’s other attacking players must begin contributing more consistently: “Definitely, we have to. The numbers up front have to be better – they know it. We’ve talked about that. I have players with the ability to score: Omar Marmoush, Rayan Cherki, and Phil Foden all have that talent.”
“Big Teams Are Defined by Goals and Assists”
Guardiola emphasized that elite teams are distinguished by their variety in attack and their ability to share the goalscoring load across multiple players.
“The big teams are defined by impact in assists and goals from several players,” he said. “That’s why I’m optimistic. In the Champions League, we’re in a better position than last season. We have two huge games at home – against Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen – that can take us close to qualifying for the final eight.”
The Spaniard also acknowledged that Arsenal’s form has set a high bar this season. “Right now, Arsenal look unstoppable – they play fantastic, defend well, and have many players who can score from different situations. But once we take that next step, we’ll close the gap.”
Haaland’s Hunger for Goals Unwavering
Despite the immense workload, Guardiola dismissed any suggestion that Haaland is feeling the strain of being City’s main scorer.
“He’s not tired of scoring goals,” Guardiola smiled. “Maybe when you play too many games, yes, but he didn’t play against Swansea – he’s fresh. When he’s tired, he’ll tell me. Earlier in the season, we couldn’t rest him much because Omar (Marmoush) was injured, but now we can play differently. Even Rayan Cherki can play as a false nine, and that suits him perfectly.”
Guardiola added that tactical flexibility will be crucial as City navigate a packed schedule: “When we have the full squad available, we can play in different shapes and adapt depending on the opponent.”
Haaland Set to Return Against Bournemouth
After being rested for the midweek Carabao Cup win over Swansea City, Erling Haaland is expected to lead the line once again when Manchester City host Bournemouth on Sunday. The 25-year-old will be eager to continue his prolific form and help his side bounce back in the Premier League.
FAQ
Q: What did Pep Guardiola say about Erling Haaland’s pressure at Manchester City?
A: Guardiola admitted that City rely too heavily on Haaland for goals but insisted that other forwards like Foden, Marmoush, and Cherki must step up.
Q: Is Guardiola planning to rest Haaland more often?
A: Yes. Guardiola confirmed that Haaland will be rotated when possible, with tactical options like a false nine allowing him to manage the striker’s workload.
Q: Will Haaland start against Bournemouth?
A: Haaland was rested midweek and is expected to start against Bournemouth on Sunday.
Conclusion
Pep Guardiola’s comments reveal both admiration and concern for Erling Haaland’s relentless impact at Manchester City. While the Norwegian remains the focal point of the team, Guardiola is urging others to contribute more – a necessary evolution if City are to sustain success across multiple competitions this season.
