Manchester City’s recent struggles have laid bare an unexpected problem: a one-dimensional attack that’s heavily reliant on Erling Haaland. If Haaland doesn’t find the back of the net, Pep Guardiola’s side looks alarmingly short on goals, a surprising issue for the squad of world champions. After four consecutive defeats, it’s clear that City’s lack of another consistent goal threat is holding them back. Right now, it feels like it’s Haaland or bust for Manchester City.
A quick glance at City’s top scorers this season shows just how dependent they are on Haaland. He leads with 15 goals in all competitions, while Phil Foden, Mateo Kovacic, and Josko Gvardiol trail far behind with only three goals each. Foden, notably, hasn’t scored in the Premier League this season. This lack of a secondary goal-scoring option is becoming more glaring with each passing game, especially during City’s ongoing losing streak.
In recent matches against Sporting and Brighton, City had plenty of early chances, but their finishing let them down. Haaland, in particular, missed some crucial opportunities against Sporting. Had they converted these early chances, the outcomes could have been very different. But City’s wastefulness in front of goal isn’t just about missed opportunities; it raises a pressing question: where do the goals come from if Haaland’s chances dry up?
With Julian Alvarez now at Atletico Madrid, City lacks a backup striker. Foden can be a threat on his best days, but he’s yet to hit top form this season. Similarly, Ilkay Gundogan, known for his timely runs into the box, has yet to find his goal-scoring rhythm. Kevin De Bruyne, typically a midfield scoring asset, has been limited by a groin injury.
Young talents like Savinho and Jeremy Doku bring flair but lack consistency in front of goal. Meanwhile, Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva have never been prolific scorers, and Rodri’s season-ending knee injury has further reduced City’s midfield firepower. Examining the squad closely, it’s clear that outside of Haaland, there’s no dependable goal-scoring threat.
This overreliance on Haaland is unsustainable for City’s ambitions. Guardiola’s options to solve this are limited for now; perhaps having more players fit will help by allowing fresher legs to make those crucial box runs that City have benefited from in past seasons. But the underlying issue remains: without another reliable scorer, City’s attack feels incomplete. How Guardiola addresses this pressing concern is unclear, but one thing is certain—it can’t just be “Haaland or bust” if they aim to regain their winning form.
