Manchester City are on thin ice with Erling Haaland over-reliance, admits Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has insisted that Manchester City cannot pin all their hopes on Erling Haaland after the Norwegian bagged a brace in a 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday.

After a hard-fought opening 45 minutes against a well-drilled, patient Everton side, Manchester City broke the deadlock in the second-half as Erling Haaland headed in brilliantly from Nico O’Reilly’s cross – having been frustrated until that point by a resolute Toffees backline.

The 25-year-old made it two soon after as he struck a fierce shot past Jordan Pickford from the edge of the box after being teed in by Savinho to make it 14 goals in all competitions for Manchester City this season – we’re in October.

Manchester City have been heavily reliant on Haaland to do the damage in front of goal since Julian Alvarez left for Atletico Madrid last summer. However, the boyhood City fan has remained unfazed in the face of the added responsibility over his capable shoulders.

Speaking after Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday, Guardiola was lost for words but did well to elucidate on just how important Haaland has been for his side, with City pushing firmly in the title conversation despite their slow start to the 2025-26 season.

“He could’ve scored four or five. He’s our key man, what can I say? At the same time, we cannot rely on, and we want to do good things not just with Erling,” Guardiola said.

It is no secret that City would like their wingers and attacking midfielders to take on a greater role in the final third, with Haaland’s goals bailing Manchester City out of jail time and again and single-handedly being the driving force behind their resurgence after a sub-standard 2024-25 season.

“Our wingers, attacking midfielders, others have to make a step up, and chances we create, they’re so clear! You have to score; Savio had two, Jeremy (Doku) had two, Tijjani (Reijnders) had another you have to score,” Guardiola added.

Guardiola did not mince his words and has sent a fresh call to his wide attackers and midfielders to step up and alleviate Haaland’s burden, with City looking worryingly devoid of solutions in attack when Haaland is not being fed.

“We have to score more, yeah. If we don’t create, it’s fine. But if we create, we have to score, yeah. I saw in training they’re good with finishing, so they have to do it,” Guardiola added.

“And I have no doubt, when they unlock, those players will score. Omar (Marmoush) is a top scorer, Savio in one moment it will happen, Oscar (Bobb) as well, Tijji (Reijnders) and Phil (Foden) – they’re really good (at) scoring!

“We cannot deny how good Phil (Foden) is in those positions, Tijjani (Reijnders) as well. And when Rico (Lewis) plays that position, he’s a guy who always arrives in the final third really, really good. We have Erling (Haaland), it’s fine, but we’ll be stronger. They have to feel, ‘Okay, I have to help the team’. And this is what we have to do.”

Haaland is in the form of his life and having been appointed to Manchester City’s captaincy group in the summer, the high-flying Norwegian has led by example since the start of the season as the Blues navigate a period of change after a major squad shuffle in the recent transfer window.