Sunday’s game at Bournemouth was hard work for Man City. But in the end, they got through the test, and they’re in the FA Cup semi final.
As has often been the case for Manchester City this season, they made a meal of their latest game, going behind away at Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarter finals before mounting a second half comeback.
Nico O’Reilly inspired Man City’s win at Bournemouth with two assists for Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush’s goals, and Man City fans want to see more of O’Reilly in the coming weeks.
He was the brightest spark on an otherwise dreary day for Man City. And for Pep Guardiola, there’s a number of City players simply not in form right now and so some bold decisions may have to be made in the coming weeks; not only in terms of selection but who stays at the Etihad for next season.
And one player whose form has been questioned this season is Haaland. Despite having 30 goals in 40 games in all competitions this season, Haaland has received criticism for his form at times with the Norwegian having set himself such a high bar in his first two seasons in the Premier League.
Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Ally McCoist critical of Erling Haaland’s form at Man City after Bournemouth win
In a gutting blow for Pep and Man City, their £51million man Haaland was injured against Bournemouth and is now set for a stint on the sidelines, with the true extent of his injury not yet revealed, but looking relatively serious nonetheless. And speaking after the win at Bournemouth, Ally McCoist was critical of Haaland.
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Jeff Stelling asked the former Rangers star if he thinks the 24-year-old City striker’s form has been a cause for concern this season, to which McCoist replied on talkSPORT: “I would suggest it is, actually. But do you know something, dare I say it, he’s probably one of these players where his form, actual overall form, doesn’t matter that much. It’s his goalscoring pedigree that matters more than anything, to Erling Haaland.
“He’s one of these players Jeff, as long as he’s scoring goals, he’ll get away with, I wouldn’t say anything, but you know what I mean?” McCoist later added: “His actual playing form, I think it has dipped. But if his goal-scoring goes along with that then you’ve got a big problem.”
Pep’s plan for Erling Haaland at Man City, it all makes sense now
A big criticism of Haaland, as McCoist alludes to, is that he doesn’t get involved in the build up play as much as other strikers in the Premier League might do with their clubs.
But according to Pep, that’s been the plan all along. Pep said of Haaland’s role at Man City in March: “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.“
So like McCoist says, whether Haaland is in form or not, and whether he’s so much of a team player or not, doesn’t entirely matter. His role in the side is to score goals and he’s scored 30 of them this season.
His injury is certainly a blow for City, though at the same time it’s a chance for Pep to trial and error some new players and potentially some new systems, ahead of a crucial summer leading into a likewise 2025/26 season.