The new season is just a matter of days away and there are no prizes for guessing who will be the centre of attention for Manchester City.
All eyes will be on Erling Haaland as the Blues get their title defence underway at West Ham. We have, of course, already had a few glimpses of the Norwegian superstar in action, and – though he didn’t get on the scoresheet – we saw enough against Liverpool in the Community Shield to suggest he will be the major coup everyone expected for City.
At the same time, Saturday’s encounter at the King Power Stadium also demonstrated there are still some things for Pep Guardiola to iron out if he’s to get the best out of his new addition. Pundits and fans alike picked out a number of moments in which Haaland’s new teammates missed the opportunity to get him involved and show off his considerable talent in front of goal.
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That will obviously take some time to get used to, after a season without a recognised number nine, not to mention potentially a slight change in approach. But Guardiola may well have another ace up his sleeve in the form of Phil Foden.
The academy graduate has been utilised in all manner of positions by his manager, but generally he has been seen forming part of the front three. Last season saw him gravitate to a more central area, something Guardiola sees as his long-term position.
“For Phil, responsibility is not a problem,” Guardiola said earlier this year. “Since day one going to bigger stages, bigger scenarios and important games, it’s not a problem (for him). He loves to play.
“He can play in all five positions up front; winger on both sides, striker through the middle and in the pockets like an attacking midfielder. I think in time he will be more capable to play in positions in the middle, he still has all the actions, the high speed, so maybe now the wide positions suit him better.
“In the academy when I started to see him at 16/17 years old when I arrived here, he played in a position like Kevin (De Bruyne) and wow, he played really good but all the actions are so, so quick. You remember David Silva, sometimes he slowed the rhythm to increase the rhythm, (but Phil’s) rhythm is always high.
“It's good as he is so aggressive and we need it but sometimes he needs a little bit, but that is a question of time. He can do it no problem, it’s just a question of time.”
The time could well be now, and it could well be the ideal solution in order to realise Haaland’s full potential. The likes of De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva have spent the last few years playing in Guardiola’s style, patiently building through stages rather than instantly looking for the run of a forward.
Having Foden in the middle could enable City to develop their game, and have the 22-year-old acting as the David Silva to Haaland’s Sergio Aguero. It’s clearly in Guardiola’s plans to move Foden more centrally, and we may well see his masterplan in action this season.
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