Pep Guardiola has made it clear on a couple of occasions that Erling Haaland was not brought to Manchester City for his link up play and passing.
Understandable really and not only given the striker’s near goal-a-game record but because the City boss has some of the best in the game at doing that already. But while Haaland may have failed on that count on Saturday, not delivering a goal on his home debut, what he did do was demonstrate that his qualities could make those playing in behind him even better.
Bournemouth ’s defence will testify to difficulties of trying to shackle one of greatest threats in the game when he is backed up by Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan and flanked by Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez. Time and again the Cherries backline was caught between a rock and a hard place as Haaland drove towards goal, creating space and time for perhaps the best array of attacking midfielders ever put together.
