Manchester City risk missing their top marksman Erling Haaland for their upcoming Champions League clash against AEK Athens. The Norwegian striker, who netted twice in the recent 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town, has sustained a foot injury.
The situation is exacerbated by a severe injury to Antoine Semenyo, who damaged his left knee towards the end of the Ipswich game and is set to be sidelined for up to eight weeks. With Divin Mubama on loan at Southampton, the squad is running low on recognised strikers. Head coach Enzo Maresca has acknowledged the difficulty of the situation while also highlighting available alternatives.
Maresca's tactical decisions: Who will lead the line?
With summer signing Antoine Semenyo expected to miss around 13 matches, the Italian manager will need to reshape his attacking line.
- Phil Foden as a 'false nine': The midfielder ended his goalless streak in the Premier League against Ipswich, and according to Maresca, he has experience playing in this position. The coach has identified him as a potential solution.
- Iliman Ndiaye: The Senegalese newcomer was effective as a traditional striker during his time at Sheffield United in the championship-winning 2022/23 season, scoring 14 goals.
- Ryan Cherki: Last season, Pep Guardiola noted that the Frenchman would be a good fit for the 'false nine' role; he previously scored in the League Cup against Brentford while fulfilling similar duties.
As for Erling Haaland, he could still feature against AEK. Maresca mentioned he will assess the player's condition after training, despite the forward missing the open session with the media.
The nature of Semenyo's injury
Semenyo's absence is a significant blow for the club. Coming on as a substitute in the 77th minute against Ipswich, the Ghanaian left the field limping immediately after the final whistle.
- Initially, the club feared a worse outcome, but further medical examinations revealed a sprained collateral ligament in his knee.
- The forward is expected to miss approximately two months, with a return date tentatively set for December.
- In Semenyo's absence, Jeremy Doku is likely to secure a regular spot on the left flank of the attack.
