Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has called on his players to be more clinical in front of goal, insisting the team must stop relying solely on Erling Haaland for their attacking output.
The Premier League champions secured a 2–0 victory over Everton on Saturday, with Haaland once again proving decisive after scoring both goals. However, Guardiola expressed concern about his team’s growing dependency on the Norwegian striker.
Speaking to the club’s official website after the match, Guardiola noted that several players missed clear opportunities that could have widened the scoreline. He pointed to Savinho, Jeremy Doku, and Tijjani Reijnders as examples of players who must be more ruthless in front of goal.
“Haaland could have scored four or five by the end. He’s a key player for us, but we can’t rely on just him,” Guardiola said. “Our wingers, attacking midfielders, and the rest of the team need to step up. The chances we create are so clear — Savinho had two, Jeremy had two, Tijjani had another — at this level, they have to finish those chances.”
The Spanish tactician stressed that converting opportunities is crucial for maintaining the team’s dominance across all competitions.
“We have to score more. It’s one thing if we’re not creating chances, but when we are, they must be converted,” he explained. “The players know this — we’ve talked about it many times. In training, they finish well, so they need to bring that composure into the matches. I have no doubt that once the confidence clicks, the goals will come.”
Guardiola went on to name several players he believes can ease the burden on Haaland, including Oscar Bobb, Phil Foden, and Rico Lewis.
“When Rico plays further forward, he gets into great positions. Omar, Savio, Oscar, Tijjani, Phil — they all have the quality to score goals in those roles,” he added. “Haaland will always be important, but we’ll be stronger as a team if everyone contributes. I want this squad to be dangerous from every position, not just one.”
Manchester City remain unbeaten in their last five league matches and continue to chase another Premier League title, but Guardiola’s latest comments highlight his demand for greater efficiency from his star-studded attack.
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