Tuesday 25 November 2025 22:26, UK
Manchester City’s surprise defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League has reignited a debate over Pep Guardiola’s squad rotation and whether his team is overly dependent on Erling Haaland for goals.
Guardiola’s decision to rotate his lineup in a congested schedule aimed to preserve players for domestic priorities and keep the squad fresh. But against a well-drilled Leverkusen side, the altered balance in midfield and attack left City with fewer clear-cut chances and moments of cohesion. Critics argue that when Haaland was isolated or not fully supplied, City’s threat diminished noticeably — a sign the team still leans heavily on the striker to convert openings rather than creating diverse scoring sources.
Former striker and pundit Clinton Morrison pointed to the game as evidence that when Guardiola tinkers with personnel, the tactical tweaks must ensure creative continuity. Morrison suggested City need attacking alternatives who can both create and finish if rotation is to be effective without sacrificing results. He highlighted the importance of linkage play — midfielders and wingers offering consistent service and forward movement — so Haaland is not the sole outlet for goals.
Supporters of Guardiola counter that rotation is essential across a long season and that occasional setbacks are an acceptable trade-off to keep key players fit. They note that City have a history of adapting after losses and that tactical experimentation can expose long-term weaknesses to be fixed before knockout stages or title runs.
The Leverkusen defeat serves as a reminder of the fine balance Guardiola must strike: preserving squad fitness while maintaining the attacking fluency that makes City formidable. Whether this result forces a rethink on rotation policy or simply a short-term correction in selection and tactics remains the central question for supporters and pundits alike.