BLV Quang Huy: Man City has a plan to reduce dependence on Haaland

05/11/2025 15:55:00 ChampionChatter

The two wins over Swansea and Bournemouth have not only increased Man City's self-assurance but also provided Pep Guardiola with ideas on ways to decrease their dependence on Erling Haaland.

1. It’s undeniable that Man City's resurgence after a slow start to the season owes a lot to Haaland. Except for the two losses against Tottenham and Aston Villa, the Norwegian striker has scored in every match he has played for Man City across all competitions. His brace against Bournemouth last weekend brought his tally to 17 goals this season, clearly showing that Guardiola’s team still needs a top-class scorer like him to chase trophies this year.

The challenge for the Spanish coach is that he cannot leave Man City's fate solely to Haaland’s goals. The Norwegian striker can have off days or be effectively marked by defenders, as shown in the two losses mentioned earlier. Guardiola definitely needs a Plan B for Haaland, such as using Omar Marmoush in the recent Carabao Cup win against Swansea or relying on Rayan Cherki, who scored against Swansea and assisted both of Haaland’s goals in the Bournemouth match. Crucially, whatever backup plan Guardiola devises, he must not let Haaland lose his form. Having a top striker like Haaland is vital at Etihad, so Man City must ensure he keeps scoring consistently. However, Guardiola also needs alternatives ready in case Haaland faces fitness issues or needs rest in matches where Man City secures an early lead. The fact that Doku, Marmoush, and Cherki scored last week is encouraging, but Guardiola shouldn’t overthink reducing Haaland’s influence up front. Maintaining Haaland’s scoring momentum for as many games as possible will be key for Manchester City to keep up with Arsenal and aim for the best results in the Champions League group stage. This situation is similar to how Real Madrid’s Xabi Alonso sought to maximize Kylian Mbappe’s scoring ability.

Although Haaland is in great form, Man City must avoid becoming overly dependent on him.

2. Looking ahead, Man City must focus on beating Dortmund in tonight’s match. Guardiola’s side currently has 7 points from 3 matches and sits 7th in the group standings, one place below Dortmund. An important factor for Guardiola is the upcoming Premier League clash against Liverpool this Sunday. Everyone is watching to see if the Spanish coach will rotate his squad, giving playing time to less-used players, or stick with his strongest lineup, avoiding complacency against a Dortmund team performing well in the Bundesliga. Niko Kovac’s team is currently third, 7 points behind leaders Bayern Munich, and has won their last two Bundesliga games.

Most likely, Guardiola will still start key players like goalkeeper Donnarumma and Haaland, aiming to score early so he can rest them later in preparation for the crucial match against a motivated Liverpool, eager to prove themselves after a rough patch. Although Dortmund is in good form, they have never been too challenging for Guardiola’s team. Personally, I believe Man City will secure a victory, possibly an easy one, while preserving the fitness of their main players. This will be an important advantage since Liverpool might be somewhat fatigued after expending full effort against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

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