Pep Guardiola Highlights Gameplan to Fix Erling Haaland & Co.’s Slump in Scoring & Defends Manchester City’s ‘Creativity’

Despite having a goal machine like Erling Haaland and versatile midfielders with an eye for goal, Manchester City has only scored two goals in the last two matches. They settled for a draw against Chelsea. And struggled with a close win against Brentford, thanks to Haaland’s 71st-minute strike. In a recent press conference, Pep Guardiola laid bare his game plan for the Sky Blues. He urged his players to ‘create more chances‘ and ‘concede less‘. Furthermore, he stressed this strategy could give his team an edge in goal difference and hence aid them in the title race.

Manchester City now sits second in the Premier League table, four points shy of top-seeded Liverpool. Every game is paramount for City to compete for the silverware. Hours from now, Guardiola and Co. face Bournemouth.

Pep Guardiola stresses creativity is paramount to ‘winning games’ and the title race

Erling Haaland and Co. had 56 shots in the last two matches. In a press conference before the Bournemouth game, Pep Guardiola was asked if scoring less, despite creating these many chances, was a concern. “I have to score more. When we create 50. I think not on target but shots and in that position in last two games, so yeah we should do it more,” said Guardiola. He stressed that creating chances and scoring goals are not the sole important factors.

“As much you create and less you concede, you are all the time closer to win games,” he added. The Spanish tactician also said he does not pay any attention to the myriad data from City’s games. Later on, the 53-year-old said goal difference between teams could even decide this year’s league title race. Notably, the title race is so tight this year that Arsenal sits behind the Cityzens shy of just one point.

Guardiola details how goal difference could determine the PL winner

During the interview, a reporter told Pep Guardiola that goal difference is key to the title race. “Yes, always happened. It happened in the past with Liverpool when we went for a small margin. Always was a concept and right now we are behind both teams,” the Manchester City boss said. Top-seeded Liverpool boasts the highest goal difference of 38. Meanwhile, Arsenal has a GD of 36. The Sky Blues lag behind both with a GD of 32.

READ MORE: Erling Haaland ‘Will Shut Your Mouth’ Warns Pep Guardiola, After Critics Doubted Manchester City Star’s Comeback

Speaking of GD’s importance, Manchester City has an iconic story to tell. It was goal difference that aided City win their first PL title in the 21st century. In the 2011-12 season, Manchester City and Manchester United finished the league with 89 points each. However, the Cityzens had a GD of 64 to United’s 56, which ultimately granted them the title.

READ MORE: Liverpool Legend Highlights Pep Guardiola’s ‘Biggest Problem’ After Manchester City vs. Chelsea Ends in a Draw