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Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany believes that Pep Guardiola‘s attackers must do more to create chances for Erling Haaland, who was starved of service in last weekend’s frustrating 0-0 draw with already-relegated Southampton.
Despite boasting over 70% possession and 69 touches in the opposition’s box, Man City registered only five of their 26 shots on target and were unable to break down a packed Saints backline that have conceded a league-high 82 goals this season.
Haaland returned to the starting lineup after missing seven games through injury and he was hoping to add to his 21 Premier League goals for the campaign, but the Norwegian was presented with only one opportunity in front goal at St Mary’s – a header off target in the 91st minute.
City’s goalless stalemate with Southampton was not the first time that Guardiola’s men have struggled to create clear-cut chances for Haaland in front of goal, with the likes of Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne and James McAtee, who all started, enduring an afternoon to forget.
Asked if he feels sorry for Haaland because he is not getting regular service from his teammates in the final third, McInerney told Sports Mole: “100%. He’s one of the most lethal finishers in world football, but every gun needs ammo and he’s not been given that.”
“Haaland is an insane tool, an incredible asset”
McInerney suggested that City lacked the creative nous of summer transfer target Morgan Gibbs-White, adding: “I was watching a compilation of Morgan Gibbs-White because we’ve been linked to him and that cross he gave to Chris Wood (against Leicester City), you just don’t see that from City players. Kevin De Bruyne did an awful lot [but he] doesn’t do as much anymore. Where are the early passes?
“Ultimately, if you’ve got a 6ft 5in guy who can finish with either foot, acrobatically, brilliantly, just put a cross in the six-yard area, head height and he’ll try and get his head on it… I know Haaland could do more and get more involved, but ultimately he’s an insane tool, an incredible asset, a freakish one-of-a-kind footballer and all you’ve got to do is just try and get the ball to him.
“All these passes around the area are very Manchester City. They’re great, but someone at some point has to go: ‘Right I’ll put the cross in, or I’ll beat the man, or I’ll try and draw some players towards me and I’ll try and find Erling’. To me, it felt like everyone else was waiting for someone else to do it.
“McAtee would pass to Foden, Foden would pass it back to [Mateo] Kovacic, you’d work it out wide to [Josko] Gvardiol, back to De Bruyne and back in again… the main issue is the speed of which you do it.
“You can cross, but when you cross and there’s only really Haaland and one or two players in the area, [and Southampton have] got 11 people back, you have to move it quicker (and push more people into the box).
“Haaland is absolutely starved for service”
“Haaland is absolutely starved for service. I know people will turn around and go: ‘Oh City are better without him’ and so on – that’s not the case. City won the treble with Erling Haaland. They’re better when they’re more proactive and I think Haaland is suffering from City’s hesitance really. It’s just not good enough.”
McInerney added: “I was really disappointed (with the result) to be honest. We’ve had a good few weeks, winning lots of games, not always convincing but we definitely turned a corner so to speak… and this felt like a slight step back… I definitely felt City underestimated them a little bit.
“Southampton’s defensive record was abysmal. City have only got themselves to blame for that draw that felt like a defeat, and as a result, Champions League qualification is up in the air still.”
McInerney was surprised that Guardiola made as many as five changes to a City side that has won each of their last four Premier League games, and the lack of natural wingers from the start ultimately proved costly.
“The old adage: ‘If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it’,” said McInerney. “Guardiola traditionally is a man of consistency, especially towards the end of the season when the team’s found a bit of form. He doesn’t make many changes, he tends to stick with what he knows, and occasionally Guardiola can slightly overthink.
Was Guardiola wrong to bench Marmoush, Doku?
“The idea behind (his lineup against Southampton) was technical players: Rico Lewis, James McAtee, Phil Foden – ‘tight-spaces players’ to quote Guardiola… but it felt like too many changes.
“These (changes) can always be justified if you win and if the performance is there, but it looked a little bit disjointed and a change to how City have been playing recently. Gvardiol and Rico Lewis were pushed wide, but they’re not the same as Nico O’Reilly and [Matheus] Nunes. They’re both good crosses those two and Nico as we know has also got a goal threat.
“We made a few changes and I was surprised because it was working (City winning games with previous lineup). I didn’t feel like it was necessary. They were not defensive changes, but they felt like they were slightly more cautious and controlling and I don’t really understand why we did that against Southampton of all sides.
“In the second half when Marmoush, Nico O’Reilly, Savinho, Doku came on, it felt different. There were people willing to take risks, people willing to turn, run at people. Marmoush, in particular, was full of hunger and energy.
“And Doku, he was so impressive. He had more successful dribbles (five), chances created (three) and duels won (eight) the McAtee, Foden and Lewis combined.
“I don’t understand the logic about removing that right now, because we have to win, we have to score goals, we had to scare Southampton, and we didn’t unfortunately.”
Press play on the video at the top of this article to hear the full discussion.
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