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It wasn't just his hair that Erling Haaland was missing when Manchester City kicked off their 2026–27 Premier League campaign with a tight 2–1 win over Bournemouth on Sunday. The three-time Golden Boot holder may well have been wondering where his teammates had gone.
Haaland's profile soared over the summer, becoming the face of Norway's captivating World Cup run that briefly threatened to shake up the established global hierarchy.
The City forward struggled in the previous weekend's Community Shield loss to Arsenal, starved of quality service by a side still adapting under a new head coach. By the time the league season got underway at the Etihad Stadium, he had debuted a fresh look — shearing off his signature blond hair the day before and sharing the transformation on YouTube.
But this was less a Samson-style loss of power through a haircut. The real weakness lay in the half-assembled squad around him. He glanced around on a bright Manchester afternoon and found no Bernardo Silva, no Rodri, no John Stones — all departed in the summer to Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Inter respectively. That's 26 years of combined service and 1,053 City appearances suddenly absent.
Record buy Elliot Anderson started in midfield, covered a lot of ground for little reward, and limped off after 63 minutes. Enzo Maresca opted to deploy Marc Guéhi in midfield ahead of Nico González, who appears surplus to requirements and may soon be heading to Newcastle United. Nico O'Reilly, a midfielder by academy training, was successfully converted to left back by Pep Guardiola last season but was handed the No. 10 role here.
Maresca brought on Rayan Cherki to replace O'Reilly 18 minutes into the second half, and City immediately looked more threatening. The Frenchman registered both assists as the hosts scored twice in rapid succession late on to snatch victory from defeat. Haaland, however, was not the one to benefit.
Cherki's 84th-minute corner was met by an unmarked Guéhi to level the score, before the Frenchman picked out Joško Gvardiol in an advanced position to net the stoppage-time winner.
Haaland Only As Good As the Service Man City Provide
The day before, former Premier League player Paul Merson had predicted on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday that Haaland would grow "frustrated" this season, as the revamped City side is not necessarily built to serve his strengths in the same way as before.
The ex-Arsenal man noted "brilliant" runs during the Community Shield that went unrewarded, pointing out that City's creative output is now structured differently. "If you're Haaland, you'd be worried," he said. "Kevin De Bruyne, Silva — they put him through, but they've got dribblers [now], not someone who's going to put the ball through [to him].
"You're only as good as the players that provide you, and he isn't going to have that service."
Haaland had five attempts against Bournemouth. Two went wide, one was blocked. He forced Đorđe Petrović into a save late in the first half — a header resulting from a cross by centre back Rúben Dias.
His clearest opportunity came in the 75th minute with City still behind. Phil Foden was involved in the build-up, but the final delivery into the box came not from a polished technician but from Guéhi. The bobbling ball sat slightly too far behind Haaland, forcing him to reach around it and sacrifice power. Petrović made the stop with ease.
Man City's Transfer Business Not Over
Despite the summer transfer window drawing to a close, City remain a work in progress. News of an agreement for Lille starlet Ayyoub Bouaddi — expected to fill the Rodri role in midfield — broke just before the Bournemouth fixture.
Haaland needs better midfield support to truly flourish.
The previous day, Maresca had told the press that City are searching for the "new Rodri," noting that the Spaniard himself was relatively unknown when he arrived in 2019 and that the club has a strong track record of replacing departing stars. Seven years ago, Rodri was brought in with the intention of succeeding an ageing Fernandinho.
BBC Sport reports that Alex Scott, who was energetic and disruptive in Bournemouth's midfield at the Etihad, is on City's radar. The club has "not given up hope" of reuniting Maresca with his namesake Enzo Fernández. Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister is also being considered.
It is likely that any move for one of that trio would come in addition to the Bouaddi deal. Haaland can only hope the club succeeds in its pursuit and that everything clicks into place sooner rather than later.