Manchester City's latest Premier League title defence could be led by a more direct approach after the arrival of Erling Haaland.
City won the race to sign Haaland, 22, for £51m this summer, after spending the best part of two seasons without a fit, recognised striker. They managed to win and defend their Premier League title in that time, and have now added Haaland to the front line as they go in search of a third title in succession - starting on Sunday with the season opener at West Ham.
Haaland will undoubtedly add a different dynamic to City's play this season, and one aspect of that could be a quicker release from the Blues' supporting cast to get the ball into the new number nine. And with that possibility comes a warning, that if they don't get balls into the box to supply Haaland, he may stop making the runs to meet them when they do eventually arrive.
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Discussing the new-look City attack with MEN Sport this week was former Blues winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, who referred back to his on-field relationship with Premier League great Didier Drogba when the pair were at Chelsea.
"With the Haaland signing, is it's given City something that they not used to having," he said. "So it's something that they have to get used to having, in a way know how to utilise it. And they've both got to be on the same wavelength.
"Once they get to that point where they have that understanding that as soon as you turn, I'm ready to go, it will come naturally. If you have a player like Kevin De Bruyne behind a player like Haaland always looking to get in the box or always looking to get in behind it will be brilliant.
"But I think at the same time people have to understand that's also going to make City even more direct than that normal. Haaland has to understand that and other players have to understand that because when you watch City play, it is always patient build-up, they don't mind going up on a counter-attack, ruining a counter-attack to come back and keep control of the game for that perfect pass. And it works all the time, but with Haaland sometimes I feel like you have to be a bit more direct.
"If you have a striker like Haaland in the box, if you get half a yard to put the ball in the box for a six-foot-five, goal-hungry player, just do it as quickly as you can. People always ask me what was it like when I played on the wing, I said with Didier Drogba, it was easy. All he asked me to do, as soon as you get the ball out of your feet, put it in that box, front post or back post, and he'd get there or make it difficult.
"As much as City don't play that way. I think if you have Haaland in your team at times, you'll find more times than not it will come out at the better end of it whether it goes in or not. Then it gives the full-back something to think about and the defender. It will be a bit of gamesmanship for the team this year and I'm looking forward to actually seeing that."
As well as Haaland, City have added Julian Alvarez to their attack, who Wright-Phillips thinks can continue the 'false nine' tactics of the last 18 months. With two new, versatile strikers, the fan favourite feels that opposition defences will struggle even more to stop the Blues from controlling games.
He continued: "When Haaland makes a run, you have to get it to him, because otherwise it would get to the point where he stopped making those runs because he knows the balls are never going come. I don't think City will ever change the way they play and I don't think they should.
"But they will add something else to their game which gives other teams something to think about, with most teams come against City and know they're never going to touch the ball. They're just waiting for that opportunity whereas now if City can play that direct pass it's a plus to be able to do that on top of what they already do.
"I think Alvarez is great. I think he's a player in the sense that suits City in playing that false number nine. His work rate is astonishing. We know we can finish, he's also a fox in the box. He can fit into that way he can rotate from left to right and even sometimes drop a bit deeper and they can play whereas I think Haaland plays more on the shoulder - he is that target man, one of the few number nines still around in his game. He can do that job."
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Wright-Phillips was speaking as Japanese beer brand, Asahi Super Dry, become ‘Global Partner of City Football Group' in a new multi-year deal. The partnership will see Asahi Super Dry become the CFG's 'Official Beer Partner', and will be sold at the Etihad Stadium, with auto-pour technology to speed up the pouring process for supporters, as well as a number of other benefits for fans as part of the deal including upgraded bar facilities at the Etihad.
Richard Ingram, Global Brands Director at Asahi Europe & International said: "The football experience and beer experience in stadiums has been poor. This relationship with the City Football Group will premiumise and elevate the fan experience in the stadium. We've invested millions in the 70-odd bars in the stadium from the normal concessions to the way the beer's poured.
"It will be in recyclable, reusable plastic rather than paper. The whole experience should be better than it was. As a Japanese beer brand we're all about progression moving forwards, both from what we serve and what we do. These guys are all about going beyond. In the stadium, we do have and we'll have the first time auto-pour - literally the perfect pint poured by the press of a button and it doesn't exist anywhere else. It's quicker, easier and better quality. So that's what we want to deliver.
"Throughout this we want to give a really positive connection with fans of City in in the stadium. So throughout the year we're planning to give stuff back. It's our biggest global investment. And as a premium brand, where would you want to be apart from Man City?"
Asahi Super Dry and City Football Group announced a new multi-year deal that will see Japan’s Number One beer, known for its innovation, and unique Japanese super dry taste become ‘Global Partner of City Football Group,’ which incorporates current reigning champions, Manchester City.
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