“Not the main concern” – Pep Guardiola quizzed on lack of goalscorers aside from Erling Haaland | OneFootball

Erling Haaland’s goalscoring dominance in the Manchester City squad in Premier League outings is ‘not the main concern’ for Pep Guardiola, the manager admitted.

City enter another crucial weekend in the Premier League with conversations around balance of goals within the squad. While Haaland’s extraordinary output has placed him at the top of scoring charts, questions have grown regarding contributions from elsewhere in the team.

With fixtures becoming increasingly demanding across competitions and City aiming to return to winning ways following back-to-back defeats in the Premier League and Champions League, distribution of goal threat has become a recurring talking point.

The club’s recent dip in efficiency in the final third, particularly in high-profile contests such as the defeats to Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen, has further fuelled scrutiny over whether Erling Haaland is being relied upon too heavily to deliver match-defining moments.

Additionally, form fluctuations across City’s attacking unit have impacted the rhythm of their play, with the manager having been without consistent performances from several creative contributors throughout the campaign, even as Haaland continues to play a central role.

Speaking to reporters ahead of Manchester City’s Premier League meeting with Leeds United on Saturday afternoon, Guardiola was quizzed on whether the lack of share amongst players in terms of goalscoring in the top-flight is a ‘concern’ for him.

“Not the main concern, but of course we have to [have] more players [scoring],” the Catalan coach admitted.

“But in general, except the last game [vs Bayer Leverkusen], we made good, good, many good things in terms of the game, in terms of defence, all the aspects that we talk [about],” he continued.

“And of course, Erling [Haaland] is massively important, but the other ones as well.”

Continuing on the subject of whether he expects more from his attacking players, Guardiola explained, “Not just that. Everyone, but not everyone in just that aspect. Always we expect the best for many, many things.”

Pep Guardiola’s remarks will inevitably reopen discussions over City’s attacking evolution, particularly with the January window approaching and several players facing uncertain futures in 2026.

Recent reports linking the club to additional forward depth and midfield creativity suggest coaching staff may look to diversify the goalscoring profile in the months ahead, with Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo known to be a player of interest.

There will also be attention on players such as Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki, Savinho, Oscar Bobb, and Jeremy Doku, who are all expected to shoulder more attacking responsibility. Given Pep Guardiola’s long-standing emphasis on shared output, performances over the festive period may play a significant role in shaping tactical adjustments or transfer priorities.

Looking ahead, how Manchester City respond against Leeds and in the weeks that follow will serve as a strong indicator of whether the squad can collectively re-establish the attacking stability that has defined Guardiola’s era, and go on to challenge for honours this season.