As teams embark on a renewed direction in sports, identifying a guiding star becomes pivotal. For Manchester City, recent transitions have drastically reshaped their lineup. Despite Kevin De Bruyne’s desire to remain, management’s lack of confidence in his fitness led to significant departures, including Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker. Amid injury struggles, Rodri is also at risk of missing further matches, leaving only a handful of the starting 11 from the recent Wolves match who were present in the Champions League final of two years ago.

Erling Haaland, a key player since joining from Borussia Dortmund, is now expected to shape the team’s future style. Guardiola’s past comments likening his teams to “the Harry Kane team” hint at the evolving identity of Manchester City’s squad, possibly becoming defined as the Haaland FC.

In the recent match against Wolves, Tijjani Reijnders grabbed headlines with impressive statistics; however, Haaland’s continuous conversion ability remains notable as he completed a brace. His dominance in expected goals showcases his importance in this transitional phase. As City alters its formative style to adapt to departures, they have seemingly set a more direct approach, further aligning with Haaland’s strengths.