Erling Haaland’s World Cup knockout run has handed Enzo Maresca a Man City management problem before his first pre-season has even started.
Haaland scored the 86th-minute winner as Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 to set up a last-16 meeting with Brazil.
The goal took Haaland to five for the tournament and kept Norway’s run alive. For City, it also extended one of the more awkward summer ‘calculations’ for their new manager.
Maresca’s Haaland timing issue
Haaland’s form is not the concern. He looks sharp, fit and fully locked in with Norway.
The problem for Maresca is timing.
City are moving into a post-Pep Guardiola reset, with work to do on pressing triggers, midfield spacing and the service patterns around their No.9. Every extra Norway match cuts into the time Maresca has with the player who still defines City’s penalty-box threat.
ReadManCity has already looked at why Haaland’s Brazil tie gives Maresca a workload problem, and the issue now feels even sharper with Brazil waiting.
Haaland has played down Norway’s chances, telling Fox Sports their probability of going through is “very slim”. Brazil will not see it quite the same.
Reuters has noted that Brazil are still chasing a first win over Norway in five meetings, with Haaland and Martin Odegaard both playing the underdog card in New Jersey.
For Maresca, the ideal outcome is harder to call. A deeper Norway run keeps Haaland in rhythm, but it also pushes his City return further back.
City’s new era is already starting on someone else’s calendar.
