We cannot rely solely on Haaland and Maresca to urge the players to step up.

Another crucial match in the fourth round of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League will take place, with Manchester City traveling to the Red Bull Stadium to challenge RB Leipzig. Manager Maresca stated in a press conference that the team cannot rely solely on Haaland to score goals, and other players should step up and share the burden.

In the last round of the Champions League, Manchester City secured a resounding 5-1 victory over AEK Athens, thanks to a hat-trick from Foden, along with goals from Elliott Anderson and Laryan Scherki. Unfortunately, in the earlier Premier League match, Manchester City suffered a 0-1 home defeat to Brighton.

Manchester City manager Maresca said, "It's very important that we create chances in every game. It's certainly better when Haaland is on the pitch because everyone knows he can score, or at least create scoring opportunities. But at the same time, we can't rely on Haaland every game; we need other players to score as well."

“I think the last game against Brighton was the only game we didn’t score so far. Of course, we feel safe as long as Haaland is on the pitch, but we also need other players to step up and score.”

Regarding the packed schedule, Maresca said, "We are still playing in all competitions, there are a lot of games. We have 20 first-team players, and each one is very good, so maintaining healthy competition within the team is a good thing. We have a lot of games and a lot of excellent players. This is not a short sprint, but a marathon."

"We must look at the 65 games of the whole season. Winning games at this stage is important, but it is equally important that all players stay healthy and in good physical condition for the more crucial and competitive period from February to April."

Furthermore, when discussing Elliott Anderson's performance, Maresca stated, "Right now, he's playing in the position that suits him best, which is as a defensive midfielder in the number 6 role. Undoubtedly, he can also play as a number 8 in the future, making more forward runs into the box. His passing ability is good, and I think he can score even more goals."

“At this stage, I am still working hard to get to know every player on the team. We have only been working together for four months, so I need to get to know them better, and they also need to become more familiar with my coaching style. But one thing is for sure: Elliott Anderson is fully capable of playing the number 8 position and making forward runs into the penalty area.”

Image source: Internet