Haaland also has his day as Manchester City's guardian

Never before has Pep Guardiola had to make so many changes to allow his football system to accommodate different factors, and fixing these flaws has delayed Manchester City in the championship battle with Arsenal.

This season's Premier League is a tournament of selective control, intelligent pressing, high-speed transitions, and increasingly tight organization, where strong teams must be more pragmatic, while weaker clubs are forced to be tactically sharper to survive.

Turning Haaland into a defender

The Spanish strategist has always been a trendsetter, but now he is compelled to transform his football philosophy due to the intense tactical shifts from opponents. Teams now focus on specific scenarios for different phases, where set-piece scoring plans seem "overshadowed" compared to goals from open play, second balls, or counterattacks.

The severe crisis from last season was initially addressed by new signings whose playing styles differ from the core philosophy of Pep Guardiola. However, this did not fully resolve the systemic issues the team faced, causing them to lag behind Arsenal due to defensive mistakes and the stagnation of the possession-based style that has dominated at Etihad for years.

Manchester City lacks stability and is "isolated" by the decline of the very players who achieved the historic treble in 2023. The 55-year-old manager cannot afford any delay in pushing his squad to become more pragmatic and resilient.

The first to undergo "reform" is Erling Haaland. Typically, this striker is praised for scoring countless goals. So far, he has netted 22 in the Premier League (five more than the second-placed Igor Thiago) and accounts for nearly 40% of the club's total goals.

But in last weekend's match against Newcastle, his performance was not about brilliance or finesse in the opponent's box. He did not score any of Manchester City's two goals. Instead, Pep Guardiola praised him and voted him Man of the Match for acting as a defender during many of the opponent's attacking situations.

The number 9's duels reached a career-high, matching Rodri's count (12). Only Guehi and the Spanish midfielder made more clearances than Haaland (3) in this match. This was also the Premier League game where Haaland had the most touches since arriving at Etihad (43).

In the past, the Norwegian striker was often criticized for being passive off the ball and questioned about his stylistic fit in a team built on a passing-based approach.

But recently, Haaland's expanded role in Guardiola's 4-2-2-2 system allows him to take on a more flexible forward position. The number 9 is encouraged to drop deep and move wide when opportunities arise. Moreover, attritional matches demand more from a traditional number 9.

Addressing defensive weaknesses

Although Haaland scores fewer goals, he contributes more as Guardiola continues to tweak tactics to suit the needs of a still relatively new squad. Since the start of the year, Haaland's goal involvements have been scarce, only 6 in the Premier League, yet his overall contribution has never been more valued.

Perhaps, Haaland being fitter than at any other point this season has helped him. After missing the FA Cup win against Salford, he had not played for 10 days. Notably, the Spanish strategist did not substitute him off when protecting the lead, while Semenyo and Marmoush were taken off, as Haaland's height made him indispensable in defending set-pieces.

"I am not a fan of having Erling defend. But he helped the whole team. He is a fantastic, generous player, so I will never forget what Erling did for us," Pep Guardiola said after the Newcastle victory.

The theory is that strikers must be selfish, scoring as many goals as possible. But the number 9 is experiencing a goal drought in early 2026. However, this is also when he shows greater responsibility as the team struggles defensively.

The high-pressing system is becoming increasingly risky for Manchester City, as teams transition faster and possess effective "channel-switching" midfielders. Pep's defenders still face challenges from spaces behind them, and their connection with the forwards is disrupted by opponents' tactical setups.

To minimize the growing risks during a phase where they must win every match, the Spanish strategist needs to utilize every resource at his disposal.