Since Pep Guardiola joined Manchester City in 2016, cutbacks have been a regular part of the team’s attacking moves.
Regardless of how City shape up in possession, or which spaces they are planning to attack, cutbacks have been an important solution for them under the Catalan manager.
Since Erling Haaland’s debut, he has been capitalising on them, scoring six out of his 36 goals in his first Premier League season from this specific attacking move.
Even Guardiola was impressed by Haaland’s movement when the Norway striker first joined City. “What has impressed me is that I knew he was a guy for big transitions, and over 30 or 40 metres he was unstoppable,” said City’s manager in October 2022.
“But I didn’t know how good he moves in small spaces in the box. In the end, he has scored a lot of goals because he moves really well.
“He is so intuitive, and especially he makes movements I like a lot; as a striker, he goes away from the action to be close to the ball after.”
Five cutback goals followed in 2023-24, before a drop last season when Haaland only scored once like this in the Premier League.
This season, The Norwegian is back on track with three cutback goals in 17 Premier League appearances, even if City aren’t creating those opportunities at their normal rate.
City have created 1.9 cutback chances per game in 2025-26 — their lowest rate since Haaland arrived in 2022. Yet, only Everton (34) have created more cutback chances than City’s 33 in the Premier League this season.
In addition, City have accumulated the highest xG (5.8) and scored the most goals (eight) from cutbacks in the 2025-26 Premier League.
Interestingly, 33 per cent of City’s cutbacks this season are received by Haaland — his highest rate during his time in England’s top flight — and his understanding of which spaces to attack and the timing of his movement have been impeccable.
The centre-forward is increasingly aware of these situations, positioning himself correctly or attacking the right space to offer his team-mates an option when City are attacking the wide areas.
Haaland’s first goal in the 3-0 victory against West Ham United last Saturday is an example of how the City striker spots a potential cutback opportunity, understands his surroundings and acts accordingly.
Here, City combine down the left wing and Nico Gonzalez finds Phil Foden’s run into space, with Haaland positioned by the edge of the penalty box. As Foden is receiving the ball, Haaland scans the area and can see Jean-Clair Todibo preparing to drop deeper.
Instead of rushing forward, Haaland holds his position and takes a couple of steps to the right, which puts him in the perfect spot for the cutback. Foden finds him but Haaland’s one-touch shot is saved by Alphonse Areola…
… before the City striker scores from the rebound.
Another aspect of Haaland’s threat in cutback situations is the explosiveness and timing of his runs.
In this example, from the 2-1 defeat against Newcastle United last month, Jeremy Doku finds Nico O’Reilly’s run behind the defence, and the left-back searches for passing options inside the penalty area.
Before O’Reilly raises his head to find Haaland or a late runner, the Norwegian runs in a straight line towards Fabian Schar. However, Haaland changes his direction at the last moment to give O’Reilly a cutback option, with the striker’s explosiveness distancing him from the Newcastle defender.
O’Reilly duly plays the cutback to Haaland, but the latter’s shot is saved by Nick Pope.
In this example, from the 2-0 victory against Everton in October, Haaland illustrates his understanding of space.
After City switch the ball to Savinho towards the left side of the pitch, Haaland is by the edge of the penalty area and sees Idrissa Gueye dashing towards the ball to support his right-back.
Haaland thinks about attacking the space in front of the six-yard area, but realises that the gap is by the edge of the penalty box because Gueye is moving towards Savinho and the rest of Everton’s back four are deeper.
The City striker adjusts his position to attack the space vacated by Gueye, and Savinho sets him up with the cutback…
… before Haaland’s shot goes through James Tarkowski’s legs and hits the back of the net.
The multitude of ways Haaland can score also means that the opponents can’t commit to defending the cutback, because he can simply attack the space in behind instead.
On the flip side, constantly thinking that Haaland can attack the space behind gives him an advantage when dropping deeper.
However long Guardiola remains at Manchester City, the team will be creating chances from cutbacks — and Haaland is the perfect person to take advantage.
