Guardiola Drops Clues on Erling Haaland’s Potential Replacers
Erling Haaland is a force to be reckoned with, and Pep Guardiola has made it clear that we might not see the Norwegian sensation taking on the entire burden of scoring on his own. With Julian Alvarez already shipped off to Atletico Madrid, Guardiola has hinted at utilizing a trio of players to fill Haaland’s boots. Let’s take a closer look at the Catalan maestro’s choices.
Foden, McAtee, and Gundogan Lead the Charge
In his chat with beIN Sports, Guardiola highlighted the capabilities of Phil Foden, James McAtee, and Ilkay Gundogan, proclaiming that they can all step into the breach and fill in when Haaland isn’t available.
"But Phil [Foden] can play there [in the box], close to the ball. (James) McAtee can play there, because he’s incredibly talented in those areas, and even Gundogo can play there.
He added, "I don’t know what’s going to happen at the end of the transfer window, but I think we’re going to keep on in that way."
Phil Foden has already showcased his proficiency in a more central role, making clever runs behind defenses, creating opportunities for his teammates and getting on the score sheet consistently.
McAtee, meanwhile, is another youngster who has made considerable progress in the squad. While Gundogan might not be seen as an obvious replacement for a conventional center-forward, his intelligence and control allow him to thrive in more unusual attacking roles.
The Value of the False Nine
Looking back at Manchester City’s tenure before Haaland’s arrival, City relied heavily on a false-nine setup, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Agüero, and Raheem Sterling adapting to this tactical setup with considerable success.
In an unexpected turn, Guardiola likened Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, to one of the most incredible forwards he had witnessed: "The most incredible forward player that has ever been seen is Messi." We’re left wondering about Haaland’s place in this hall of greats.
Guardiola clearly still believes in his troops and the squad’s defensive stability, citing Oscar Bobb’s loss as a significant blow, he didn’t waver.
And now, as the EPL season gets underway, let’s monitor these players and their responses. Who will rise to fill Haaland’s void, and could a certain Argentinian, Pep Guardiola, possibly discover new facets to his tactics amidst it all?
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All statistics and data retrieved from reputable sources
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