MANCHESTER CITY

RECRUITING HAALAND, COVETED BY REAL MADRID, REPRESENTS A NEW CITY LANDMARK

2022-07-20 - CONOR POPE @ Conorpope

THE PLAN

Manchester City hoovered up 93 points and bagged 99 Premier League goals last season with no recognised striker. Now armed with Erling Haaland, who struck 62 goals in 67 Bundesliga games at Borussia Dortmund, the question hanging over City is how he fits into Pep Guardiola’s system. Who changes: Pep or his new signing? The Catalan’s track record with Samuel Eto’o, Robert Lewandowski and Sergio Aguero is very encouraging, but each had early difficulties. Similarly, it took £ 100m man Jack Grealish time to settle last term, even if the calf king carried the ball into opposition boxes more than any other Premier League player. After near- league perfection once again, City want Haaland’s clinical edge in the Champions League above all else. Just don’t mention Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

THE COACH

Pep Guardiola’s future is likely to be one of the biggest stories of the 2022- 23 season. His contract at the Etihad runs out next May, and the 51- year- old has indicated he won’t make a decision on whether to stay or go until next year. Spring could be an anxious time for City supporters in more ways than one.

THE OWNER

It’s fair to say that Sheikh Mansour, via City Football Group, is pretty well liked by the Etihad faithful, with the club picking up 14 major honours in as many years since he arrived. That he’s happy to put hundreds of millions into the transfer kitty each summer certainly helps, and it’s unlikely to stop any time soon.

LESSON FROM LAST YEAR

City started last season slowly: by the end of October they’d lost to Leicester in the Community Shield, failed to score on three occasions in the league and been knocked out of the League Cup by West Ham. But the lasting bitter taste from 2021- 22 will be conceding three late goals in the Champions League semi- final second leg to Real Madrid. It was another embarrassing exit in Europe’s elite competition for Guardiola, who is now approaching 12 years without continental success. Another three- goal blitz, this time courtesy of Liverpool, in the FA Cup semi- final suggests that if City do have a problem, it’s one of mentality in some of the most important games. Coming from behind against Aston Villa to win 3- 2 on the final day and clinch the title isn’t sustainable, right?

THE MOOD

Recruiting Haaland, Europe’s most exciting young talent and coveted by Real Madrid, represents a new City landmark. It may not be winning the Champions League, but it’s a sign they now rank firmly among the elite, as does a club- record unbeaten away run in the league ( 18). With Kalvin Phillips now adding more midfield drive, Joao Cancelo – more Premier League carries into the final third than anyone else last term – has a marauder- in- crime. All this without a proper left- back, at least at the time of writing, anyway.

ONE TO WATCH

Young Julian Alvarez, signed in January but immediately loaned back to River Plate, has not yet been seen on English shores, bar a substitute appearance for Argentina in June’s Finalissima victory against Italy at Wembley.

MOST LIKELY TO...

Knock on Guardiola’s door asking for more minutes: Riyad Mahrez. City’s top scorer started 15 league games last season. Only John Stones, Fernandinho, Nathan Ake and Oleksandr Zinchenko featured less among outfield regulars.

LEAST LIKELY TO…

Knock on Guardiola’s door asking for more minutes: Scott Carson. City’s sole Champions League winner got 20 of them in the group stage last year. Easy.