Man City questioned about 'Plan B' when Haaland fails to score

Man City are depending on Haaland.

Haaland has 14 Premier League goals this season, but there is a gaping hole behind him. His eight teammates have contributed just one goal each, and none have broken the two-goal mark. The dependence is becoming more and more evident.

Former defender Micah Richards told Sky Sports: “Haaland is responsible for all the goals. Man City are relying on him. They create chances, Haaland misses them, and no one else steps up to solve the situation. Foden plays well, Doku is in form, but when they need to shine in the decisive moment, they can’t. If Haaland gets injured or goes down, how will the club manage?”

With Haaland on 99 Premier League goals, just one short of the prestigious 100-goal mark, Richards believes the biggest problem isn't the record, but the system behind him.

The former England international also pointed out another gap that Pep Guardiola must address: the role of Rayan Cherki. “Tijjani Reijnders and Rodri are both absent. Against Liverpool, Cherki played well because Man City controlled the ball. But when you go to a stadium like St James' Park, where the opposition have a strong and powerful midfield, Cherki cannot provide the necessary protection. He is not a defensive player and has to play as high as possible,” shared Micah Richards.

Richards believes Man City are “stuck between a few systems”, wanting to press high but not having the energy of previous seasons. When the midfield is breached, the burden falls on the defence, where many positions that are normally midfielders have to drop back to fill in.

Man City didn't play badly, but Newcastle took advantage of it. And while Haaland is getting closer to Alan Shearer's record, the question of Pep Guardiola's "plan B" remains unanswered.

Source: https://znews.vn/man-city-bi-chat-van-ve-ke-hoach-b-khi-haaland-tit-ngoi-post1605313.html