There are problems of having Erling Haaland. Not many, admittedly, and not those that will attract sympathy from Pep Guardiola’s managerial peers: virtually all would love to call upon a 52-goal striker.
The problems of having Haaland may come when a team is deprived of him. It was by Guardiola’s choice as his side exited the Carabao Cup at St James’ Park. Haaland was held in reserve, a substitute in a sizeable Manchester City coat, not summoned when Newcastle scored or as the quadruple Guardiola has long insisted City could not win was rendered impossible before October arrives. Haaland, it transpired, was not the insurance policy if City needed him but, like Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias, he was just making up the numbers on the bench.
