It cannot simply be Erling Haaland or bust for Manchester City across this season | OneFootball

Erling Haaland has begun the 25/26 season in sparkling form. Haaland has scored 12 goals in 9 games, and his overall game continues to evolve. Erling Haaland’s goals have been crucial for Manchester City as they are currently on an unbeaten run that has spanned seven games in all competitions. Looking ahead, Pep Guardiola’s side needs other players to step up to ease the goalscoring burden on Haaland. Relying solely on Haaland isn’t sustainable for Manchester City across an entire season. But there are enough players amongst the City squad who can chip in with goals to help the world’s best striker.

Manchester City has heavily relied on Erling Haaland’s goals to begin this season.

Looking at Manchester City’s goal scorers in all competitions for the 25/26 season shows the reliance on Erling Haaland. Haaland is City’s top scorer with 12 goals. As per statistics sourced from FBref, Phil Foden has scored two goals this season. Unfortunate Burnley defender Maxime Estève scored two own-goals in City’s 5-1 win over Burnley. Tijjani Reijnders, Savinho, Jeremy Doku, Rayan Cherki, and Matheus Nunes have each scored one goal.

As of right now, Manchester City has a huge reliance on Erling Haaland to score goals. That isn’t an issue to begin a new season, but it isn’t sustainable over an entire season. Other players have to step up and support the Norwegian international. There are enough options in Pep Guardiola’s squad that can score goals, and those players should be able to add the goalscoring threat City needs alongside Erling Haaland.

Help for Erling Haaland is on its way and amongst the City squad.

Omar Marmoush is due to return from injury after the current international break. The Egyptian international is a proven goalscorer, and when he is fully fit, he’ll add another goalscoring option for Pep Guardiola to utilise.

Phil Foden is another player who is a proven goalscorer. Goals from Foden should come in time. Tijjani Reijnders is a bona fide goal threat, and if it weren’t for bad luck and fine goalkeeping, he’d have more than one goal this season. Savinho, Jeremy Doku and Oscar Bobb need to add goals to their game, and if they do, the Manchester City attack will be far more dangerous. Rayan Cherki is another player on Manchester City’s books who can score goals in a variety of ways. His return from injury should bolster Manchester City’s stocks in the final third.

Summary.

Erling Haaland has begun this season like a freight train. His goals have been crucial to Manchester City’s play. But Pep Guardiola’s side simply cannot be solely reliant on Haaland across an entire season. That isn’t sustainable. But there are options amongst the City squad to ease the burden on Haaland and the sooner other players chip in with goals in a consistent basis, the more dangerous Pep Guardiola’s side will be.