Pep Guardiola plots to evolve football once again with his use of Erling Haaland | Jonathan Wilson

The Manchester City manager using an orthodox central striker is a remarkable shift away from his successful attacking formula

In Manchester City’s 4-0 win over Bournemouth last Saturday, Erling Haaland touched the ball eight times in the 73 minutes he was on the pitch.

For 27 minutes in the second half, he didn’t touch the ball. Rico Lewis, the young substitute who came on in the 82nd minute, managed 50% more touches than Haaland. Which means many things but perhaps most of all suggests just how radical a tactical change City are undergoing this season.

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