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The Premier League is now in its 19th round, and Manchester City are firmly at the top of the battle for the title. Fans were expecting City to sprint in the second half, but alongside the team's impressive performances, there was a topic of concern that Alvarez's rise in attack did not seem to have the full trust of manager Pep Guardiola.
In their most recent game against Sheffield United, Manchester City won 2-0 without Haaland. It is worth noting that in this game, Guardiola made a high-profile change, placing Alvarez in the central striker position. The change has sparked a heated debate among fans and raised questions about Pep Guardiola's level of trust in Alvarez.
City were sidelined by Kevin De Bruyne at the start of the season, but the attacking combination of Erling Haaland and Alvarez was still strong. When Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne were both sidelined, Pep Guardiola opted for Alvarez as a central striker. Despite missing a number of goalscoring opportunities in the game, Alvarez's quality in the centre-forward position undoubtedly breathed new life into the attacking side of the pitch.
Interestingly, however, despite Alvarez's excellent performance on the pitch, Pep Guardiola seems to have some reservations about his performance. With multiple line-ups in the midfield, Pep Guardiola's insistence seems to have made it difficult for Alvarez to find a regular position. It also raises the question of whether Pep Guardiola doesn't believe Alvarez can play a more important role, or whether he has enough confidence in the attacking combination he already has
Manchester City have endured nine games in the last 26 days, including a devilish December fixture and a match at the start of 2023. Pep Guardiola's side have a record of five wins, two draws and one defeat, and while draws with Tottenham and Crystal Palace were a bit of a disappointment, overall the team performed well. While Manchester City have strong attacking players such as Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Alvarez, they also face the question of how to make better use of these players.
Regarding Alvarez, his arrival has brought a new energy to Manchester City. He is flexible in his position, versatile in technique, and increasingly well-rounded on the pitch. Since joining Manchester City, Alvarez has played 75 games in all competitions for the Blues, scoring 27 goals and providing 14 assists. In the Club World Cup final, Alvarez's two shots and one pass helped Manchester City win the 4-0 victory, and his performance in the game became one of the keys to the team's victory.
Despite Alvarez's impressive performances on the offensive end, it remains to be seen whether he will be able to gain more trust in Pep Guardiola's system. Pep Guardiola's tactical flexibility has made City elusive, but it has also allowed the players to adapt quickly in different positions and roles.
It is worth mentioning that in the team's third-line battle, Manchester City does not seem to have serious fatigue and an increase in injuries, but instead behaves more and more energetically at critical moments. This shows that Pep Guardiola has done a pretty good job of managing the team's fitness and injuries. However, for Alvarez, it will be time to tell if he will be able to find a more established position in the team to reach his full potential.
Every Manchester City player will play a crucial role in this suspenseful season, and whether Alvarez can become a key figure in City's bid for the Premier League title may depend on Pep Guardiola being able to trust him more and give him more opportunities. Fans will be waiting to see how Manchester City continue to perform well in the upcoming matches.