City cash in with rivals caught up in Haaland hysteria
If the game-altering ability of erling haaland is not maddening enough, it turns out he has gravitational pull as well. And the problem with too many being drawn to him is obvious — one of the others in Manchester City blue will see you off instead.
Southampton actually managed haaland fairly well on Saturday, the two centre backs and goalkeeper leaving with some credit. But this presented the clearest evidence yet that paying the big man all the attention can be counter-productive.
It looks so hard not to. he strikes fear into those tasked with sticking to him and it can disorganise a defence to such a degree that Phil foden is left alone to dink in, or Riyad Mahrez is wondering where his marker is and slaps home in their absence. It is no coincidence that foden already has six goals this season — only haaland and harry Kane have more — while Kevin De Bruyne already appears primed to break his own assist record.
De Bruyne shares that accolade with thierry henry, the pair recording 20 in single seasons. the Belgian is almost halfway there after just nine matches and while many are for a lurking haaland, there will be plenty like the one against Saints. Defenders magnetised by the Norwegian forgot about foden, De Bruyne’s eight-yard ball the easiest assist he will conjure all year.
With that, he moved above Dennis Bergkamp into fifth in the Premier League era with 95. It is two more than David Silva and they built a statue of him at the etihad. he is seven behind frank Lampard now and that could be usurped by January at this rate.
De Bruyne is arguably playing the best football of his career and haaland’s presence is taking even the very finest up a couple of notches. Good players get better around other good players.
What the phenomenon of this 22-year-old is also doing is taking focus away from some personnel issues at the back. Liverpool are next in the league and City head to Anfield with just one senior full back.
In years gone by, it would unquestionably spell impending doom. It might yet still prove their undoing but there is not that same level of anxiety around in the days before the trip. City published their team which beat fC Copenhagen 5-0 last week with not one, but two Joao Cancelos.
How Pep Guardiola must wish he could start him on the left and right, but alas he cannot so — without Kyle Walker and John Stones — may well go with Manuel Akanji on Merseyside. A central defender by trade, Akanji has barely put a foot wrong since a surprising £15million switch from Borussia Dortmund and impressed on the right.
City operated in a 3-4-3 when building up from defence, so Akanji was not too unfamiliar with his surroundings. ‘there are players you have to explain things to 10 times, a player has to train 10 times there to do what you want him to,’ Guardiola said. ‘this guy — we did just one training session. Just tell him — and he got it, perfectly. It proves again, buying intelligent people always pays off.’
Akanji contends that he is well-versed at right back and has operated there occasionally everywhere he has been. Sturdy defensively and certainly no slouch despite his stature, he also possesses quality on the ball.
‘ My best position is still at centre back but when the team needs me on the right I am there,’ the Switzerland international said while reflecting on a comfortable afternoon.
‘It’s about not getting lazy in defence. ( Sometimes) it is not easy — you get a little bit tired and know you’re in a comfortable lead.’
Guardiola labelled Akanji ‘a gift’, while a small number of fans have made comparisons with Vincent Kompany.
‘It’s nice,’ Akanji said. ‘Vincent was the best defender in the Premier League and being compared to him is a big honour. But I do my own thing, I’m not trying to copy Vincent Kompany.
‘ Erling said City asked him about me. I think they had already made their plans but just wanted some more information, so asked erling. I don’t know what he said — hopefully just good words!’
MAN CITY (4-2-3-1): Ederson 7; Akanji 8, Dias 7, Ake 7.5, CANCELO 9 (Gomez 70, 6); Rodri 8, Silva 8 (Lewis 78); Mahrez 7.5 (Palmer 70, 6.5), De Bruyne 8.5 (Alvarez 70, 6), Foden 8.5 (Grealish 58, 6); Haaland 8. Manager: Pep Guardiola 7. SOUTHAMPTON (4-4-1-1): Bazunu 7; WalkerPeters 6.5 (Larios 79), Bella-Kotchap 7, Salisu 7, Perraud 6; S Armstrong 6.5 (Djenepo 66, 6), Ward-Prowse 6, Diallo 6.5, Aribo 6 (Mara 79); Adams 6; A Armstrong 6 (Elyounoussi 66, 6). Booked: Walker-Peters. Manager: Ralph Hasenhuttl 6.
Referee: Andy Madley 7.
Attendance: 53,365