Pep Guardiola has refused to blame his under-achieving forwards for their collective failure in front of goal despite Manchester City’s alarming drop in finding the net this season.
City visit Southampton on Saturday having scored just 18 times in their first 12 Premier League games – a dramatic decline from the last three seasons in which they hit the net 35, 36 and 40 times by the same point.
Even in Guardiola’s first season, 2016-17, they had scored 27 goals at this stage, an indication of the troubles that currently see his club trail leaders Liverpool by eight points.
Injury to Sergio Aguero, who is yet to score in the league this term but had netted eight times at this stage of Guardiola’s first three campaigns in charge and nine goals at this point in 2019-20, has been key.
But, with Riyad Mahrez currently his top league scorer with four goals, the City manager has refused to blame individuals or threaten wholesale changes.
“Absolutely not,” he said. “I think Sergio played just four or five, not much, Gabriel Jesus has incredible numbers, his stats for minutes (played) and goals, he’s one of the top three or four.
“He’s a guy who scores goals but it cannot be on their shoulders. We took 15 corners against West Brom, centre backs can score goals.
“The people at the front, strikers, wingers, attacking midfielders have more responsibility but everyone has to score goals.
Manchester City’s total goals vs Aguero after 12 games
- 2020-21: City 18, Aguero 0
- 2019-20: City 35, Aguero 9
- 2018-19: City 36, Aguero 8
- 2017-18: City 40, Aguero 8
- 2016-17: City 27, Aguero 8
“It would be easy for me as a manger: ‘What is the reason we don’t score goals? This guy? OK, put in another one.’ But it’s not about this.
“The numbers speak for themselves, we didn’t score goals. We have to insist to play better, and play better to create more chances. This is what we have to do.”
The midweek draw with West Brom continued a run which has seen City win just two of their last six league games, against relegation-threatened Burnley and Fulham.
But at least City seem to have sorted their defensive problems out with just one goal conceded in their last seven league and cup outings combined.
Latterly, the form of fit-again England defender John Stones, whose City career was threatened by the big money summer signings of Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias, has been key to that.
“His attitude was always the same but we see him happier and stronger now because he’s fit, he’s not injured every two or three weeks, and that helps a lot,” said Guardiola.
“He’s played really well and that gives you confidence. His personal life, now it’s settled, is much better. He’s a guy who is so sensible and that helps to be focused on what we have to do.
“My only advice to him is that what he’s gained right now, in the way he lives his life and how he takes care of himself – his body, his mind, everything – he’s got to keep that for the next 10 years, 12 years, here with me, without me, with other managers.”
