Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola seemingly has a very strange way of using Erling Haaland at times.
Pep Guardiola brought Erling Haaland to Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2022.
There’s no denying that the 24-year-old striker has been a huge hit at The Etihad, with two Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy to his name during his first two seasons with City.
He has struggled at times this season, but has still found the back of the net regularly.
Robbie Savage suggested that Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is still the best in the business, ahead of the likes of Alexander Isak.
When Haaland isn’t scoring though, he often goes through an entire game without doing anything to affect the outcome of the match.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
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And that’s what makes the latest claim about Pep’s use of the former Dortmund man so surprising to read.
Pep Guardiola’s plan for ‘enigma’ Erling Haaland
The Norwegian is a nightmare to defend against when he’s on song and bearing down on goal.
However, there are often times when the game completely passes him by.
It’s very hard to criticise someone with his goalscoring record, but there are definitely facets of his game that need improving.
According to a report from The Athletic, Pep has a really interesting tactic that he deploys when it comes to Haaland’s involvement outside of the penalty area.
Amazingly, Guardiola doesn’t actually want the 24-year-old getting involved in City’s build-up play at all:
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
“Haaland’s role in the City team, even as he heads towards the end of his third season with them, remains something of an enigma. Sometimes he pops up outside the opposition penalty area to try to link up with his team-mates, sometimes he is encouraged to make runs in behind, sometimes he barely gets involved at all — which is often part of the plan.“
That’s a truly jaw-dropping claim isn’t it.
Does Pep Guardiola regret Erling Haaland signing?
Having a striker as good as Haaland means that he will always score goals for City – 119 in 137 games tells its own story (Transfermarkt).
However, perhaps his playing style isn’t suited to the way that Pep actually wants his team to play.
It was fine when City were a winning machine and Haaland was scoring hat-tricks left, right and centre.
However, when things turned sour, and winning no longer became a formality for this City team, the Norway international all of a sudden stood out like a sore thumb.
When he doesn’t score, he is often completely ineffective.
I can’t help but think that Harry Kane would have been a far better signing for Man City three years ago.
He certaily would have suited Pep’s style of play better than Haaland does.
So the claim from the Athletic that Pep Guardiola actually plans for Erling Haaland not to be involved at all in Manchester City’s build-up play really is quite shocking.