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<p>9 goals in 7 matches</p>
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title="Are Man City a one-man team? Haaland's goals mask wider problems with Guardiola's team">
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Manchester City has moved within three points of the Premier League summit following a narrow 1-0 victory over Brentford on Sunday. However, their performance hardly indicated a vigorous challenge for this season's title. A lone goal from Erling Haaland was sufficient to secure the win against Keith Andrews' resilient squad, yet City faced several alarming moments throughout the match.
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During the game, Brentford had six shots on target, including a critical one-on-one opportunity that their top striker, Igor Thiago, failed to convert, thanks to an impressive save by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Fortunately for Guardiola's men, Haaland was on hand once more to score and avert a potential disaster. While the Norwegian's first-half goal showcased his elite skills, it also highlighted how dependent City has become on his goals and assists to stay competitive.
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Haaland has already racked up an astonishing nine goals and one assist in just seven league matches this season. This remarkable tally accounts for 67% of Manchester City's total goals in the league. According to the statistics, only two teams are more reliant on their primary scorers this season: Burnley, with Jaidon Anthony (71%), and Bournemouth, with Antoine Semenyo (82%). Despite Haaland's efforts, he hasn't been able to salvage what has been a lackluster start for the team.
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Currently, after seven matches, the former champions find themselves in fifth place with 13 points. While it may be premature to draw conclusions at this early stage, their points tally is noticeably lower than what is typically expected. Historically, Guardiola's side has never had such a poor start to a Premier League season, and the reasons for their struggles are evident.
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Although Guardiola's team has managed to keep clean sheets in five of their first ten games, they have also conceded eight goals in the other five. Adding to the challenge is a forward line that has failed to adequately support Haaland. Whether it’s Jérémy Doku (one goal and three assists in eight games), Savinho (one goal in six), or Bernardo Silva (one assist in eight), Guardiola has struggled to find consistent creativity, with perhaps only Phil Foden (two goals and two assists in seven) providing reliable support alongside Haaland.
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Whether due to new players adjusting or reliance on older players who may no longer perform at their peak, it's evident from the first ten games that many in City's squad are not meeting the high standards of previous seasons. Without Haaland's contributions, the team would likely find themselves further down the league. Had Brentford succeeded in neutralizing Haaland on Sunday, fans could be even more concerned about Guardiola's team's overall performance.
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