Manchester City faced a significant attacking selection dilemma ahead of their UEFA Champions League meeting with AEK Athens after Erling Haaland emerged as an injury doubt and Antoine Semenyo was ruled out for approximately eight weeks.
The injury concerns came at a challenging point in City’s campaign. Having suffered a 4–2 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in their previous Champions League outing, City needed a response in Europe. However, the possibility of losing their leading goalscorer threatened to complicate preparations for the match at the Etihad Stadium.
Haaland had been in outstanding form, scoring twice in City’s 3–2 Premier League victory over Ipswich Town to take his league tally to eight goals in seven appearances. His latest performance reinforced his importance to the team’s attacking system.
But a knock to his foot left his availability uncertain, forcing head coach Enzo Maresca to consider alternative ways of leading City’s attack.
The situation became more complicated following confirmation that Semenyo would miss around eight weeks with a knee injury. The Ghanaian forward had offered City another option capable of operating centrally, but his absence removed that alternative from Maresca’s plans.
With no straightforward like-for-like replacement available, City had several tactical possibilities to consider.
Haaland’s Fitness Becomes City’s Immediate Priority
Haaland’s potential absence was the biggest concern for City.
The Norwegian striker had scored in six consecutive Premier League matches and was leading the league’s scoring charts. His goals had helped City maintain an impressive domestic start, making the possibility of losing him particularly concerning ahead of an important European fixture.
Haaland offers more than a reliable finishing touch. His movement stretches defensive lines, his physical presence creates problems for centre-backs, and his ability to attack crosses gives City a direct route to goal when their passing combinations fail to open up an opponent.
His runs behind defensive lines also create space for City’s attacking midfielders and wingers.
Replacing those qualities requires more than selecting another forward. Maresca would need to consider how a different striker might affect the team’s pressing, movement, passing combinations and ability to occupy defenders.
Before the match, Maresca indicated that Haaland could still be available, although the final decision depended on his condition.
“To replace Erling is always difficult, but we have some different options,” the City manager explained, according to the pre-match report.
His comments suggested that City were preparing for different scenarios rather than committing immediately to a replacement.
If Haaland recovered sufficiently, he would remain the natural choice to lead the attack. If he did not, Maresca would have to adapt.
Phil Foden Emerges as a False-Nine Option
One of the most obvious alternatives was Phil Foden.
The England international has experience playing in central attacking positions, including as a false nine. Instead of operating as a conventional centre-forward, he can drop into midfield, combine with teammates and create space for runners arriving from the wings.
That approach could suit City’s possession-based football.
A false nine does not necessarily remain in the penalty area waiting for crosses. The player frequently moves into deeper positions to receive the ball, draw defenders away from their defensive line and create opportunities for teammates to attack the space.
Foden’s technical ability, close control and understanding of City’s passing patterns make him a potential candidate for the role.
His movement could also help City dominate possession against an opponent prepared to defend in a compact shape.
However, using Foden centrally would require adjustments elsewhere.
City would need their wingers and attacking midfielders to make more frequent runs beyond the opposition defence. Without a traditional striker occupying the centre-backs, those forward movements would become particularly important.
Foden had also ended a lengthy Premier League goal drought by scoring against Ipswich, potentially providing a confidence boost ahead of the European fixture.
Maresca identified him as one possible solution while acknowledging that City had other alternatives.
The key question was whether a false-nine system would provide enough penalty-box presence against AEK Athens.
Rayan Cherki Could Add Creativity Through the Middle
Rayan Cherki represented another tactical option.
The French attacker is known for his creativity, close control and ability to operate between defensive lines. Although he is not a conventional replacement for Haaland, his technical qualities could help City create chances through a different attacking structure.
Cherki has previously been used in a false-nine role, demonstrating that he can operate centrally when a team requires greater flexibility.
His inclusion would allow City to prioritise combinations around the penalty area rather than relying primarily on a striker’s physical presence.
Cherki could receive the ball between midfield and defence, draw opponents towards him and release teammates making forward runs.
Such an approach would be particularly useful if AEK attempted to defend deep and restrict the space available around the penalty area.
Nevertheless, Cherki’s suitability would depend on the match plan. Creativity alone would not guarantee that City could replace Haaland’s goal threat.
If Cherki operated centrally, the players around him would need to provide consistent movement into scoring positions.
That responsibility could fall on Foden, City’s wingers and any attacking midfielder selected to support the forward line.
Iliman Ndiaye Offers Another Route to Goal
Iliman Ndiaye was another potential option for the central attacking position.
The Senegal international had previously played as a striker, including during Sheffield United’s promotion-winning campaign in 2022–23, when he scored 14 goals.
That experience made him a possible alternative if Maresca wanted a player more accustomed to attacking central areas.
Ndiaye’s versatility could allow City to adjust their attacking shape without abandoning their preference for fluid movement.
Depending on his positioning, he could lead the line, move into wider areas or combine with attacking midfielders to create overloads around the opposition penalty area.
His previous experience as a centre-forward would also give Maresca another option if a false-nine system failed to provide sufficient presence in the box.
However, playing as a striker for a different team does not automatically mean a player can reproduce Haaland’s impact in City’s system.
The role would demand an understanding of City’s build-up patterns, pressing responsibilities and the timing of movements inside the penalty area.
Ndiaye’s inclusion would therefore represent a tactical alternative rather than a direct replacement.
Antoine Semenyo’s Injury Creates a Longer-Term Problem
While Haaland’s fitness dominated the immediate discussion, Semenyo’s injury created a more sustained selection challenge.
The Ghana international had been ruled out for approximately eight weeks after sustaining a knee injury during the victory over Ipswich.
His absence was particularly frustrating because he could provide cover in several attacking positions.
Semenyo had made 10 appearances in all competitions during the season, scoring two goals and supplying three assists. His pace, strength and willingness to attack defenders offered City another way to create opportunities.
He had also been considered an option for the centre-forward position when Haaland needed to be rested or was unavailable.
That flexibility was now lost for a significant period.
Maresca acknowledged the disappointment of losing the Ghanaian but indicated that the initial medical assessment had been more concerning than the subsequent scan.
The expected recovery period nevertheless meant City would have to manage without him across several fixtures.
Jeremy Doku could continue providing width on the left, while other attacking players would be required to share the responsibility for creating and finishing chances.
The injury also highlighted the importance of squad depth during a season involving domestic competition and European football.
Even a team with City’s attacking resources can encounter difficulties when injuries affect players who offer different tactical qualities.
Should Manchester City Change Their Formation?
If Haaland had been unavailable, Maresca would have needed to decide whether to replace the striker within City’s existing formation or change the system entirely.
Keeping the same formation would allow City to preserve familiar patterns of play. Foden or Ndiaye could occupy the central position while the wingers continued attacking from wide areas.
This would minimise disruption to the team’s structure.
Alternatively, City could use a more fluid attacking arrangement in which several players rotate through central positions.
Under that approach, Foden, Cherki and the wingers could interchange positions, making it more difficult for AEK’s defenders to identify which player they needed to mark.
The system could also encourage midfielders to make late runs into the penalty area.
However, a fluid formation requires coordination. If too many players move away from central areas simultaneously, City could find themselves without a target for crosses or cutbacks.
The team would need to balance creativity with a consistent presence near goal.
The choice would ultimately depend on Haaland’s fitness, AEK’s defensive approach and the players available to start.
Why the AEK Athens Match Mattered
City’s European situation added importance to the selection decision.
After losing 4–2 to Paris Saint-Germain, they needed to collect points and restore confidence in the Champions League.
A match at the Etihad offered an opportunity to respond, but AEK could not be treated as an opponent that would automatically surrender space.
City needed to approach the contest with sufficient attacking threat while avoiding the defensive problems that had contributed to their previous European defeat.
Haaland’s availability would have influenced how they approached the game, particularly in the final third.
With the Norwegian available, City could use his movement to stretch the defence and create opportunities for midfield runners.
Without him, they would need to distribute the scoring responsibility more widely.
That might increase the importance of Foden’s finishing, Cherki’s creativity and the movement of players arriving from wide positions.
The situation also presented Maresca with an opportunity to demonstrate the tactical flexibility required during a demanding season.
Manchester City’s Options at a Glance
Erling Haaland: The preferred centre-forward if fit. His finishing, physical presence and movement make him difficult to replace.
Phil Foden: A false-nine option capable of dropping into midfield, creating combinations and opening space for forward runners.
Rayan Cherki: A creative alternative who can operate centrally and help City unlock compact defences through technical combinations.
Iliman Ndiaye: A versatile forward with previous experience playing as a striker, offering another way to lead the line.
Jeremy Doku and the wide attackers: Important sources of width, penetration and goal contributions, particularly with Semenyo unavailable.
The Final Verdict
Manchester City’s attacking dilemma highlighted the importance of having multiple tactical solutions rather than relying on a single goalscorer.
Haaland’s potential absence would have been a major setback given his exceptional start to the season. Semenyo’s injury made the situation more complicated by removing another player capable of operating centrally.
However, Maresca still had options.
Foden could provide a false-nine solution, Cherki could offer creativity through the middle, and Ndiaye could provide an alternative with experience in a central attacking role.
Each option would require adjustments elsewhere in the team, particularly in terms of movement, penalty-box presence and the distribution of goals.
Ultimately, Haaland’s fitness remained the decisive factor. If he was available, City could retain their preferred attacking structure. If not, Maresca would need to find a way to maintain City’s threat without a conventional replacement.
For a team competing on multiple fronts, the challenge was not simply to find another striker. It was to ensure that the entire attacking system continued to function effectively.
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