Kun Agüero has reportedly highlighted an important area of Erling Haaland’s game that could determine how far the Manchester City striker can go in his pursuit of becoming one of the greatest forwards in football history.
The former Manchester City legend is widely remembered for his incredible goalscoring record, intelligent movement, composure in front of goal and ability to influence decisive moments. In a hypothetical assessment of the differences between himself and Haaland, Agüero’s message would be clear: scoring goals is important, but becoming a complete striker also requires the ability to participate consistently in the team’s build-up play.
Haaland has already established himself as one of the most dangerous strikers in modern football. His physical strength, incredible acceleration, aerial ability and exceptional finishing have made him a nightmare for defenders. Since arriving at Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, the Norwegian forward has demonstrated that he possesses the qualities required to score goals at an extraordinary rate. His ability to attack spaces behind defensive lines and convert opportunities from inside the penalty area has transformed City’s attacking threat.
However, football is not only about the number of goals a striker scores. At the highest level, forwards are also judged on their movement outside the penalty area, their ability to combine with midfielders, their contribution to possession and their understanding of how to create opportunities for teammates. These are the areas in which discussions comparing Haaland with legendary strikers such as Agüero become particularly interesting.
Agüero enjoyed a remarkable career at Manchester City, becoming the club’s all-time leading goalscorer before Haaland’s arrival. The Argentine was known not only for his finishing but also for his ability to operate in tight spaces, link up with teammates and create shooting opportunities through clever movement. His relatively low centre of gravity allowed him to turn quickly, evade defenders and combine effectively with players around him.
Haaland, meanwhile, brings a different set of qualities. His height, strength, pace and extraordinary ability to attack crosses make him particularly effective when Manchester City move the ball into dangerous areas. He can stretch defensive lines, occupy central defenders and create space for attacking midfielders by forcing opponents to remain close to him.
Nevertheless, the question of whether Haaland can become even more influential by improving his involvement in build-up play remains an important tactical discussion.
Manchester City have traditionally relied on possession, quick combinations and intelligent movement to dismantle opponents. Under Pep Guardiola, the team frequently uses short passes and positional rotations to create spaces around the penalty area. Midfielders and wingers are expected to participate in constructing attacks, while the striker must understand when to drop deeper, hold up the ball, release teammates and make runs into the box.
For Haaland, finding the right balance between these responsibilities is essential. His greatest strength is often his ability to position himself where the ball will arrive rather than becoming heavily involved in every passing sequence. When Manchester City win possession and move forward quickly, Haaland’s runs behind defenders can be devastating.
Yet there are situations in which a striker’s involvement in the build-up can make an enormous difference. When opponents defend deep and restrict the space available behind their back line, Haaland may have fewer opportunities to use his pace. In those circumstances, dropping into pockets of space, receiving the ball under pressure and combining with midfielders could help City create alternative routes to goal.
This does not necessarily mean Haaland needs to abandon the qualities that make him special. Instead, developing additional dimensions to his game could make him even more difficult to defend against.
Agüero’s own style offers an interesting point of comparison. The Argentine could remain close to the opposition’s centre-backs when an opportunity to score was approaching, but he was also comfortable moving into channels, receiving passes between defensive lines and participating in quick combinations around the penalty area.
His ability to make decisions in confined spaces was particularly valuable in matches when Manchester City faced opponents who defended with several players behind the ball. Rather than relying exclusively on physical strength or pace, Agüero frequently used timing, balance and quick changes of direction to create the small amount of space he needed.
Haaland has different physical characteristics, and expecting him to reproduce Agüero’s exact style would be unrealistic. The Norwegian does not need to become a replica of the Argentine to reach another level. Instead, he can build on his existing strengths while improving the aspects of his game that allow him to influence matches when goalscoring opportunities are limited.
One of the most important areas for improvement could be his first touch when receiving passes with defenders close behind him. A clean first touch can allow a striker to protect possession, turn towards goal or immediately release a teammate making a forward run. When the first touch is less effective, an attacking move can lose momentum and give the opposition time to reorganise.
Haaland’s physical strength already makes him capable of holding off defenders, but combining that strength with more consistent link-up play could give Manchester City another effective attacking option.
Another important factor is his passing and combination play. A striker who can receive the ball, draw a defender towards him and quickly pass to an advancing midfielder can create space for other attackers. Even without touching the ball again during the move, the striker’s contribution may be decisive.
For example, when a midfielder approaches the edge of the penalty area, Haaland could drop towards the ball and draw a centre-back away from the defensive line. A quick pass into the midfielder’s path could then allow a winger or another forward to attack the space left behind. Such movements would make City’s attack less predictable and force defenders to make difficult decisions.
This is particularly important against teams that study Manchester City’s attacking patterns carefully. Opponents know that Haaland is one of the biggest threats in the penalty area, so they frequently try to limit the service reaching him. Some teams deploy two defenders around him, while others attempt to prevent City’s midfielders from delivering dangerous passes.
If Haaland can contribute more consistently to the construction of attacks, defenders may face a dilemma. Staying close to him could leave space for other players, while allowing him to receive the ball between the lines could give City another way to progress through the opposition’s defensive structure.
However, there is also an important counterargument. Haaland’s greatest value often comes from remaining in dangerous positions rather than dropping too deep. If he moves away from the penalty area too frequently, Manchester City could lose the presence of their most dangerous finisher exactly when a cross or through-ball arrives.
The challenge, therefore, is not simply to increase his involvement in build-up play. It is to recognise the right moments to participate and the right moments to remain high up the pitch.
This is where Guardiola’s tactical system becomes especially relevant. The Manchester City manager has consistently demanded intelligent positioning and an understanding of space from his players. His forwards must know when to press, when to combine with midfielders and when to attack the spaces created by their teammates.
Haaland has already demonstrated that he can adapt to different attacking situations, but continued development in his combination play could provide Guardiola with additional tactical flexibility.
There is also the question of how Haaland performs when Manchester City face elite European opposition. In Champions League matches, the margins between success and disappointment can be extremely small. Opponents often have experienced defenders who are capable of anticipating crosses, blocking shooting opportunities and limiting the space available to centre-forwards.
Against such teams, a striker cannot always depend on receiving several clear chances inside the penalty area. Sometimes, the decisive contribution comes from creating space for a teammate, winning a difficult ball under pressure or helping the team retain possession during a period of sustained opposition pressure.
Haaland’s movement remains a major weapon in these situations, but improving his ability to participate in combinations could help him remain influential even when the opposition succeeds in limiting his opportunities to shoot.
The comparison with Agüero also highlights an important distinction between being an exceptional goalscorer and being a complete attacking player. These categories are not mutually exclusive, but they involve different responsibilities.
A striker who scores regularly can transform a team’s season. A striker who scores regularly while also contributing to possession, creating chances and helping teammates can offer an additional layer of tactical value. Haaland has already demonstrated his capacity to deliver goals at the highest level, so the question is how much more he can add to his game without compromising the qualities that make him so effective.
It would also be unfair to suggest that Haaland contributes nothing to Manchester City’s build-up. He makes runs that open spaces for teammates, provides a physical presence against defenders and participates in combinations during attacking moves. His movement alone can influence how opponents defend against City.
Consequently, any suggestion that he must improve should be understood as a discussion about further development rather than proof that he is an incomplete or ineffective striker.
Agüero’s legacy at Manchester City was built on his extraordinary consistency and his ability to deliver in the moments that mattered most. His dramatic winning goal against Queens Park Rangers in May 2012 remains one of the defining moments in Premier League history. That achievement established an extraordinary standard for future City forwards.
Haaland has already produced remarkable goalscoring performances of his own, and comparisons between the two players are inevitable because of their shared position and importance to the club. Nevertheless, their styles reflect different strengths, and the Norwegian should be assessed on his own achievements as well as his potential for further development.
For Haaland, the objective should not be to copy Agüero’s movements or reproduce every aspect of the Argentine’s game. Instead, he should continue developing the skills that complement his physical advantages and goalscoring instincts.
Improved combination play, sharper decision-making when receiving the ball and more effective involvement in selected build-up situations could make him an even more complete forward. At the same time, preserving his presence inside the penalty area would remain crucial to Manchester City’s attacking strategy.
Ultimately, Haaland’s ability to reach another level will depend on how effectively he combines his natural strengths with the tactical demands of elite football. His goalscoring record has already established him among the most feared strikers of his generation, but there is always room for an exceptional player to evolve.
While the claim attributed to Agüero should not be treated as a verified direct quotation without a reliable source, the underlying football debate is a legitimate one. Haaland does not need to become Agüero to achieve greatness, but expanding his contribution beyond finishing could make him more versatile and difficult to contain.
The Norwegian’s next stage of development may therefore be less about scoring more spectacular goals and more about influencing every phase of Manchester City’s attacking play. If he can improve his link-up play while maintaining his extraordinary ability to finish chances, he could become an even more complete striker and strengthen his case among the defining centre-forwards of the modern era.