29 May 2022 | 21:23 | Football
summary of words Article: “Is Haaland fit for Manchester City?” Posted in Marca.
At dawn on May 10, Vietnam time, well-known journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Haaland’s contract with Manchester City will run until June 2027. Citizens are ready to shell out £63m to release the 21-year-old striker’s contract with Borussia Dortmund. Haaland has passed a medical for Manchester City. The two sides will make an official announcement this week.
With the Norwegian star’s future clear, the big question is: “How Haaland will play in Manchester City’s squad and tactical system”. To answer this question, Marca (Spain), in conjunction with experts from Barcelona’s football coach training school MBP, analyzed Haaland’s individual and collective football.
Move to Manchester City, Haaland will play centre-forward in Guardiola’s 4-3-3
At Manchester City, Guardiola’s pupils attacked according to the following two main cards. First, the City players will try to push the ball behind the opposition full-backs. Afterwards, another “blue man” player on line 2 would run down to send the ball into the penalty area. For example, the 25th minute of Burnley 0-2 Manchester City in the 31st round of the Premier League in the 2021/22 season.
Kevin De Bruyne stabbed and hit home left-back Charlie Taylor. Raheem Sterling accelerates and makes a pass for Ilkay Gundogan. The midfielder wore the No. 8 shirt with a one-touch pad as Manchester City’s visitors won 2-0.
Secondly, Manchester City players will try to cross into the box in the last third of the opponent’s field. Manchester City’s 3-0 match against Brighton in the 30th round is the most typical example. Riyad Mahrez (23 min) and Joao Cancelo (34 min) had 2 cross attempts in the area.
Both of City’s attacking options above require the forward’s ability to shoot sharply, take up space, convert chances into goals, and operate effectively within the opposition’s 16:50 range.
Haaland has the sensitivity to “sniff” the weaknesses and gaps in a team’s defense. The 2000-born striker will attack these spaces with his extraordinary acceleration. For example, in the 18th round of the 2020/21 Bundesliga, the 22nd minute of Borussia Monchengladbach’s 4-2 Dortmund match.
Haaland played very aggressively. The young star, who wears the number 9, knows which space he should run into before Sancho gets the ball from Rafael Guerrero. Haaland, however, was in no rush to act to avoid revealing his intentions.
It was only when Sancho started making “cutting” passes for the opposition’s defence that Haaland stepped up to surprise midfielder Denis Zakaria. Of course, Zakaria was forced into a passive position by the ex-Red Bull Salzburg player. Borussia Dortmund’s No. 8 jersey got rid of Haaland and helped the young Norwegian talent close to the wall as Dortmund equalised 1-1.
In the 66th minute of the 2020/21 Nations League 1-2 Austria game and the 71st minute of the 2020/21 Bundesliga round 15 Leipzig 1-3 Dortmund game, the situation is similar in the other two games.
To sum it up, Haaland is very sharp in both finishing and running. In addition, the young Norwegian star also knows how to maintain a good connection with his teammates.Breakthrough and positioning in the penalty area Harland A crossover situation at Manchester City would be very beneficial. Clearly, the 2000-born striker fits perfectly into the Etihad Stadium team’s tactics.
3 ball stages showcase Haaland’s sense of space and ability to exploit dangerous spaces
