MY ACCOUNT
Manchester City do not appear to be their usual selves this season — but Julian Alvarez’s World Cup displays could prove to be a real boon for Pep Guardiola’s side.
The Argentine came into Lionel Scaloni’s starting line-up after La Albiceleste got off to a slow start and quickly emerged as one of their key men.
Hard-working and intelligent, Alvarez played superbly alongside Lionel Messi in Qatar and could do the same with Erling Haaland.
Ahead of City’s FA Cup third-round clash with Chelsea today, we take a look at that potential strike partnership.
On Guardiola’s radar
Alvarez is a versatile operator — he can play on the left of an attacking trident or as a central striker.
City’s preferred formation ever since Pep Guardiola arrived at Etihad Stadium has been a 4-3-3 system — although he has been known to experiment.
Playing with a lone striker or a false nine has suited the possession-heavy approach he favours.
But the Catalan manager has recently admitted that he is open to the idea of fielding Haaland and Alvarez together as a front two.
Haaland’s hauls
Haaland has been in astonishing form ever since he arrived at the Etihad Stadium.
The Norwegian has scored 21 Premier League goals already this season — three times as many as Phil Foden, City’s next most prolific player.
Alvarez is joint-third alongside Kevin De Bruyne with three — a respectable total considering the 22-year-old has only featured for 360 minutes in the top flight.
The greatest prize
Alvarez was one of the revelations of the World Cup and lived every footballer’s dream by winning the game’s greatest prize so early in his career.
The former River Plate marksman struck four times in 467 minutes of football in the Middle East — the only team-mate to outscore him was Messi, who managed seven goals and three assists.
All four of Alvarez’s goals came from open play. He was both clinical — hitting the target eight times — and unselfish, creating two chances.
The manner in which he approached games in Qatar would certainly have pleased Guardiola.
On top of the World
Speaking after Argentina beat France to lift the World Cup for the first time since 1986, Guardiola made sure to congratulate Alvarez, Messi and former City star Nicolas Otamendi.
He said: “For Julian, we are delighted. He played a lot and his contribution was amazing for the team, for the way they played.
“We have a world champion in our team. We are incredibly happy for him.
“Congratulations to him, to Nico Otamendi and, of course, personally to Leo Messi, and to Argentina as a country. They are well-deserved champions.”
Responding to pressure
City are not exactly enjoying a walk in the park — the pressure is on Guardiola’s men as they seek to fight for silverware on all fronts.
They are second in the Premier League, five points behind Arsenal — not a position they are accustomed to being in.
The Citizens also have a Carabao Cup quarter-final with Southampton on the horizon, as well as a Champions League last-16 clash with RB Leipzig at the end of next month.
City do not have the luxury of slipping up and Alvarez will need to deliver if they are to achieve their lofty goals — starting by recording a second successive win over Chelsea.
