Julian Alvarez’s arrival at Manchester City has gone slightly under the radar due to Erling Haaland’s prolific start to the season.
Following City’s 3-0 win over Wolves, Pep Guardiola seems to be intrigued by the idea of playing the two forwards together. Guardiola’s tactics have become well known throughout his career, opting for slow build up play, looking to maximise control of the midfield leading to high percentage shots in the final third.
The arrival of Haaland, however, has provided new challenge for the Catalan, with the manager traditionally not opting for an out-and-out No.9. But his City team have been able to quickly adapt to the phenomenal Haaland and the creativity provided in midfield by Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne has helped the Norwegian collect 14 goals in 10 games for the Blues..
City’s 6-0 victory over Nottingham Forest gave fans a first glimpse of Alvarez playing in his traditional centre forward role. Playing alongside Haaland, the duo proved to be a particularly effective big-man-little-man partnership with the players scoring five superb goals between them.
The 22-year-old has provided City with a new option out wide as well. The recent outgoings of Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus, and before them Leroy Sane, left City with limited options on the flanks and current starters Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish both look to get the ball into feet and rarely look to dash in behind defences.
This lack of forward pressure has recently been exposed with the team’s first half performance against Dortmund particularly lacklustre and it wasn’t until the introduction of Bernando Silva, Phil Foden and Alvarez that City posed any threat in the final third.
Guardiola has looked to incorporate Alvarez and has instructed his midfield in transitional play to get forward with Bernardo and Joao Cancelo providing the width, allowing Alvarez into a traditional No.10 role and allow Haaland to get in behind. This role looks to suit the Argentinian, who has demonstrated exceptional playmaking abilities and willingness to press during his time in South America.
Despite calls from City fans for his immediate inclusion from the start, his limited appearances so far this season is largely due to the player adapting to the pace of English football. However, the introduction of Alvarez has so far looked to provide a new tactical cutting edge in Guardiola's ever-evolving system.
By providing new options in transition, it allows the manager to opt to control games or provide intense pressure in the final third. This flexibility throughout the frontline poses a formidable threat to the rest of the league with the squad continuing to go from strength-to-strength.