So how better to celebrate signing the world's most coveted young striker than by presenting an argument that he doesn't really need him?
Just the second player to score four goals in a Premier League game this season was a Manchester City midfielder, Kevin de Bruyne. Wolves, who had one of the best defensive records in Europe a few weeks ago, conceded five.
Guardiola joked he was disappointed De Bruyne, who also hit the post, did not get five of his own. The only other player to score four this year, incidentally, was the City striker who decided he wasn't a striker, Gabriel Jesus. He was long seen as Sergio Aguero's successor; instead, Erling Haaland may belatedly assume that mantle, but only after two seasons when City should win the Premier League without needing a specialist centre-forward in their strongest side.
Haaland offers the potential of 40 goals on his own, but City's collective commitment to scoring is such that they have 22 in five games. They may yet finish this season with a century in the Premier League, the vast majority from those who can be called midfielders, wingers or No 10s; anything except strikers.
This story is from the May 13, 2022 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 13, 2022 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Your At-A-Glance Guide To Election Declaration Times
The results of yesterday’s elections are being declared over several days, starting shortly after the polls closed last night and ending on Sunday.
Turkey Halts Trade With Israel Over Gaza Deaths
Turkey yesterday suspended all imports and exports to Israel citing the country's ongoing military action in Gaza and vowed to continue to impose other measures until the Israeli government allows the flow of humanitarian aid to the region.
The AI App That Shows Just How Bad Dating Is Right Now
As a new app launches with the promise to help men placate their ‘angry girlfriends’, Olivia Petter asks what this type of technology says about our expectations of men – and women
Sunak 'Worse Than Truss' As Tories Facing ‘Armageddon'
Rebel MPs sharpen knives as election mauling predicted
NHS Watchdog Sanctions Mental Health Hospital For Having History Of Poor Care
A private mental health hospital used by the NHS has been sanctioned by the service’s safety watchdog, which warned it has had a “history” of substandard care.
EU And US Urge Georgia To Halt Its 'Foreign Agents' Bill
The government of Georgia is under international pressure to abandon its plans to designate certain organisations foreign agents”.
Do Today's US Protests Really Compare To Sixties Struggles?
As the calendar turned from April to May, police marched onto the campuses of two major universities, one on each coast of the United States, and dispersed hundreds of students.
Biden Condemns Violence At Colleges Amid Gaza Protests
Joe Biden yesterday condemned the unrest and violence that has disrupted college campuses over the last week, while stressing the importance of the right of Americans to protest peacefully in support of the Palestinians’ treatment during Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza.
Disco-pop princess fills the dancefloor like no other
Dua Lipa is doing what she does best on Radical Optimism’, getting feet tapping and bodies moving to slickly-made beats with an undeniable chart-topping energy
Hollywood made Dunaway pay for her independence
With new documentary ‘Faye’ set to premiere in Cannes, Geoffrey Macnab tells the cautionary tale of how the strong, chic ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ star ended up acting in B-movies
