Man City is almost on the brink of 'collapse' because of just one player.

Man City is thriving thanks to the devastating form of Erling Haaland, but without the Norwegian striker, Pep Guardiola’s goal-scoring machine risks a complete “collapse.”

While Arsenal faces criticism for relying heavily on set-piece goals, Manchester City is even more deeply dependent on Erling Haaland. The harsh reality is that without the Norwegian forward, Guardiola’s goal-scoring system would almost entirely “fall apart.”

So far, Haaland has netted 15 goals in 12 matches across all competitions, including 11 in the Premier League, accounting for 65% of Man City’s total goals. This statistic says it all: Manchester City relies heavily on the form of the “killer” from Northern Europe.

According to the stats site Squawka, there has never been a season under Pep Guardiola where a single player contributed such a high percentage of goals. Pep is known for his philosophy of “team over stars,” but his current system revolves around one man: Erling Haaland. When he excels, City wins. When he is silent, the whole team immediately stalls, as seen in last weekend’s loss to Aston Villa.

The concerning fact is that Man City no longer has a Plan B. In previous seasons, with Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan sharing the scoring load, Guardiola could flexibly adjust tactics. Now, with De Bruyne sidelined long-term, Gundogan gone, and Foden and Doku still unstable, Haaland is almost the sole lifeline in attack.

Statistics show City has won only 1 of their last 4 matches where Haaland didn’t score, and in those games, they took many shots but lacked sharpness in finishing. Haaland is not just a goal scorer; he is also a “magnet” attracting defenders and creating space for teammates. Without him or when he’s off form, City’s play becomes disjointed and lacks creativity.

This dependence poses a significant risk for the rest of the season. If Haaland gets injured or goes through a scoring drought, Man City could lose their status as top contenders for the Premier League title and even falter in the Champions League, where moments of brilliance from the star player are always needed.

Man City may be a squad with great depth, but clearly, once Haaland is absent, Pep Guardiola’s entire attacking system wobbles. If they don’t find a way to reduce this reliance soon, the “blue empire” could face collapse at any moment.