Maresca says City can't rely only on Haaland for goals

Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca has said his side cannot depend on Erling Haaland to score every game, ahead of Wednesday's Champions League trip to RB Leipzig.

Haaland has been a revelation since joining City in the summer of 2022, scoring 175 goals in 209 games. This season he has nine goals in nine appearances, and the three-time Golden Boot winner is only three goals short of Eric Brook as the club's second-highest scorer of all time, behind Sergio Agüero.

“It’s very important that in each game we create chances,” Maresca said. “For sure when you have Erling inside the pitch it’s better because you know he is going to score goals or be close.

“At the same time, we cannot rely on Erling for every game. We need the rest to score goals.”

Maresca has already given the Norwegian time off, leaving him out of the Carabao Cup win over Brighton. He spoke about recuperation and rotation as he looks to manage his squad across a demanding 2026/27 season.

City are second in the Premier League table, but they sit just outside the Champions League qualification places, in 10th spot. Wednesday's match at the Red Bull Arena is their fourth in the competition this season, following wins over FC Porto and AEK Athens and a defeat to defending champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Maresca stressed that squad depth is essential over a long campaign. “We have so many games and so many good players. It’s not a short run. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.”

“We have to think about 65 games and for me now it’s important for sure to win games but it’s also very, very important to arrive in February and March and April when it’s going to be more exciting to have all of them available and fit.”