Guardiola certain he’ll find way to free up Haaland
PEP Guardiola is confident City will find ways to get the best out of Erling Haaland in games where teams play a low block at the Etihad Stadium.
The Norwegian made his home debut for the Blues on Saturday against a Bournemouth side who played a 5-4-1 formation with the defence and midfield lines extremely deep in an attempt to combat City’s attack.
Haaland had a role in the opening goal, coming deep to play a one-two with Ilkay Gundogan and getting an assist, but he was otherwise quiet in front of goal and registered just one shot.
However, that didn’t bother Guardiola, who had defended the striker’s almost impossible task of playing against three centre-backs and two holding midfielders.
Now, the Blues boss says the squad must work on the training ground to find a solution to get Haaland involved more when other teams play like Bournemouth did.
“I won’t take more balls to him,” Guardiola said. “He cannot drop because there are five players there and spaces are tight so you have to adapt to the way they want to play from how the opponent defends.
“If they press high we will create more chances for him. Just in that position, in those one or two actions, we have to look at him.
“In this type of defence you have to play with a striker or maybe two because you have to attack leftright, right-centre, right-left, inside and behind when the space is minimal.
“At the right moment when Joao (Cancelo) or Kevin (de Bruyne) go inside, that is the right time for movement.
“But it is coming, it is a question of timing, in my career many times we play teams like that and we always find a solution to break it. The most important thing is that many other players score goals because the attention from the opponents will be for the run for (Ilkay) Gundogan, run for Kevin, the other ones.
“Erling will get more space and it is a question of a little time.”
Asked if Haaland takes City to another level, Guardiola smiled and said he is already more than happy with the level his players are showing, but continued his comments that the squad must develop ways to get the No.9 more involved in games like against Bournemouth.
He said: “I am really quite satisfied for the level we have. The level is the quality of the players.
“It is similar to when we arrived but we know each other much better and are now training just for the little details.
“We have to adapt and need a little time.
“I am Erling Haaland, I have three players here, two players in front of me, it is difficult and no space behind because they are in the 18-yard box. It is a question patience and in the right moment we will find it.”