How can Erling Haaland possibly improve on 52 goals in 53 games for Manchester City?
That will be the major goal for Pep Guardiola and his star striker going into the new season after Haaland helped City achieve new heights in the previous one. Haaland’s integration over the season was an interesting one; even if his scoring rate dipped a touch, he became more and more involved in the build-up play as the season progressed.
After Riyad Mahrez’s £30 million move to Al Ahli, City’s attack will look considerably different the following season, leaving the Blues short on the right. By displacing Mahrez on the right, Bernardo Silva led City to victories in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League, but he can’t be counted on to cover there all season.
If Bernardo stays, he will also be deployed in the centre throughout the season even if he may not even be at City at the end of the transfer window. Who then can step in on the wings as Guardiola’s system becomes more streamlined each season?
As part of a new series ahead of the upcoming season, here we look at each position in City’s squad and look at each player’s aims for 2023/24:
Bernardo Silva
Where he can improve: Bernardo played in a variety of midfield positions last season, including left back, and is completely aware of what Guardiola wants in many different places. After a few seasons of moving around the midfield, given that he finished the season as a right winger and Riyad Mahrez has left, that might be his more consistent position the next year. Making the right-wing position his own and perfecting it could be essential to his success and City’s.
What is his season’s primary goal? Bernardo, who has made it plain that he would want to leave Manchester but always gives 110% when he is at the club, finds it difficult. He will be expected to carry on with his noteworthy performances and contribute to lessening the loss of Mahrez if a solution cannot be found. Even though he may want to play centrally, switching to a wide position full-time may be the greatest way for him to continue showcasing his elite talent.
How much will he play: Surely he will get a lot of game time, with the right-wing and attacking midfield areas open for him to play in. That is, assuming he doesn’t find a club willing to pay City an acceptable transfer fee.
Phil Foden
Where he can improve: Foden is an excellent attacker, but at the end of the previous season, he was unable to replace Bernardo or Jack Grealish. In April and May, he put up some good performances while using that time to gain experience in midfield, including coming off the bench in the Champions League final. This season, he will focus on continuing that growth as an offensive midfielder while also supporting Grealish and Bernardo on the wings.
What is his main aim this season: Getting more game time in the center of midfield will be on Foden’s mind, but there is also scope for more games on the wing. When he played on the right wing at the start of last season, he linked up well with Kevin De Bruyne and the pair were providing plenty of goals for Erling Haaland. After losing his place in 2023, there are a number of positions where Foden can win it back.
How much will he play: It’s hard to say, as other versatile players have found when offering different qualities across a number of positions in midfield and attack. A player of his quality won’t be out of the team for long, though, and this feels like a big season for Foden in terms of developing in his long-term role at City.
Julian Alvarez
Where he can improve: Despite backing up Haaland last season, Alvarez still managed to put up a solid 17 goals and five assists in 49 games. Less than half (23 games) of those were starts, and he alternated between playing up front alone, behind Haaland, next to Haaland, or even on the flank. Building on his performance from the back end of the season, when he was productive when playing as a member of the same attack, will be a path to obtaining more games if he can’t replace Haaland.
What is his main aim this season: If his ultimate aim is to be City’s number one striker that might be a hard ask, but playing more games and more from the start doesn’t have to be difficult. Playing more often can get his rhythm and momentum up, which should result in more goals.
How much will he play: Upfront on his own, not a lot. But playing next to or behind Haaland could be his best chance of playing more often. And with limited options on the wings now Mahrez has gone, could he come inside from the wide positions and offer a more direct threat on the right, perhaps?
Jack Grealish
Where he can improve: Although it’s a given that Grealish should score more goals and provide more assists, he already demonstrated last season the value he can offer to the squad even when he doesn’t score every week. He might improve his end product now that he has grasped the art of attacking under Guardiola. However, City wouldn’t grumble in the slightest if he continued to play with the same consistency and effect as last year without adding any additional goals.
His primary goal for the current campaign is to maintain his left-wing position and to continue to display his talent. Grealish has revealed that he wants to win the Community Shield as his next goal, demonstrating his passion and motivation to win awards. As City strives to win the seven trophies up for grabs, he won’t be the sort to rest on his laurels and will seek to advance farther.
The only left-side opponent he will face is Phil Foden, a matchup that Grealish easily beat the previous year. Grealish seems to have an easy path to regular games because Foden seems to have a future elsewhere.
Erling Haaland
What needs work: Really? Even if his build-up play began to improve as he began to serve as a creator for players like Kevin De Bruyne, if we’re being fussy, Haaland’s scoring rate did seem to slow down towards the conclusion of the season. While it’s noteworthy that only one of his 52 goals came from beyond the penalty area, adding more assists would make him even more dangerous. He would be nearly impossible to defend against if he could combine a long-range threat with an eye for an assist.
What is his season’s primary goal? Haaland’s second season would be fantastic if he could repeat his accomplishments from the previous one, but a player with his attitude would always want to surpass his own achievements. However, if you ask him, he would be content not to score as long as City kept winning championships. As straightforward as it may sound, Haaland will be content if he continues to score frequently and enhance all aspects of his game. A content Haaland is also excellent news for the city.
How much will he play? Haaland’s fitness is always carefully monitored, but it would be difficult to drop him even for an occasional, much-needed rest. He will play as much as he can if he is healthy. And when he does play, he’ll probably score as well.
Cole Palmer
Where Palmer can improve: Prior to the final week of the season, when he was given opportunities from the start after the Premier League title was won, Palmer struggled to have an influence on games when he came off the bench the previous year. He should benefit from his under-21 Euro performance as well as the presence of a less experienced player in his preferred right-wing position. It would be beneficial for him to bring more of a threat to the field wherever he plays, especially in terms of goals and assists.
What is his season’s primary goal? Haaland’s second season would be fantastic if he could repeat his accomplishments from the previous one, but a player with his attitude would always want to surpass his own achievements. However, if you ask him, he would be content not to score as long as City kept winning championships. As straightforward as it may sound, Haaland will be content if he continues to score frequently and enhance all aspects of his game. A content Haaland is also excellent news for the city.
How much will he play? Haaland’s fitness is always carefully monitored, but it would be difficult to drop him even for an occasional, much-needed rest. He will play as much as he can if he is healthy. And when he does play, he’ll probably score as well.