The Decision Behind Erling Haaland's Bench Role for Man City vs Wolves
Pep Guardiola has opted to bench Erling Haaland for Manchester City's game against Wolves due to the striker's recent goal drought in open play. Read on to understand the reasoning behind this surprising move.
Pep Guardiola has dropped Erling Haaland from the starting line-up for Manchester City's Premier League game against Wolves amid a run of eight games without scoring from open play. Haaland had started all 22 of City's previous league games, scoring 20 goals. But he last hit the net against Brighton from the penalty spot in early January and has not scored in open play since December.Haaland has not been left out of a City line-up since starting on the bench against Bayer Leverkusen on November 25 while he has not sat out an entire game since City's Carabao Cup tie at Swansea on October 29. And Guardiola admitted last week following the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Newcastle that Haaland was "exhausted". The Norwegian hitman badly under-performed during City's resounding 2-0 defeat at Manchester United and missed several chances in the shock 3-1 defeat at Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League on Tuesday. And Guardiola has finally taken action by leaving his top scorer out against Wolves, who are bottom of the Premier League table.Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Erling Haaland's Goal Drought
Erling Haaland, who has been a key player for Manchester City this season, has been dropped from the starting line-up against Wolves after eight games without scoring from open play. Despite starting all 22 of City's previous league matches and netting 20 goals, the Norwegian striker has struggled to find the back of the net since December.
Fatigue Concerns
Guardiola hinted at Haaland's exhaustion following City's Carabao Cup semi-final clash, suggesting that the player may need rest to regain his form. The recent performances against Manchester United and Bodo/Glimt indicated a dip in Haaland's usual standards, further reinforcing the decision to drop him.
Tactical Adjustment
The decision to bench Haaland against Wolves could also be a tactical maneuver by Guardiola to shake things up and explore different attacking options. With the striker not firing on all cylinders recently, the manager may have opted for a change in approach to break the goal drought.
The Impact on City's Line-Up
Haaland's absence from the starting XI against Wolves will undoubtedly be felt, given his prolific scoring record for City this season. However, this move presents an opportunity for other players to step up and showcase their abilities in a crucial Premier League fixture.
Looking Ahead
As Haaland watches from the bench, the focus shifts to how City will fare without their top scorer on the pitch. Guardiola's decision sends a clear message that performance and form are key factors in team selection, regardless of a player's reputation. The outcome of this game could shape future team selections and strategies for City.
