Pep Guardiola’s side were all about the process before they traded a prolific striker for an auxiliary midfielder
Manchester City have won 14 of their past 15 games which, given the general sense that they are not quite firing, says a lot about both their quality and expectations. Perhaps Tuesday’s 6-2 FA Cup victory at Luton was the beginning of an upturn; if it was, it is much needed before a March that will probably define their season. And if Erling Haaland’s five goals indicate that he is back in peak scoring form that will also be very welcome given the disorienting sense that City have become reliant upon him.
City’s run has been very odd. Those 15 games, starting after the draw with Crystal Palace in December, took in fixtures in the Club World Cup, the FA Cup and the first leg of the Champions League last 16 as well as nine Premier League games, none of them against sides that started the day in the top eight. Given Urawa Red Diamonds, Fluminense and FC Copenhagen probably wouldn’t make it into the top eight of the Premier League, it is a remarkably gentle run of fixtures in the middle of the season.
Written by Jonathan Wilson
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2024/mar/02/erling-haaland-remains-both-solution-and-problem-for-manchester-city under the title “Erling Haaland remains both solution and problem for Manchester City | Jonathan Wilson”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
