Julian Alvarez has received high praise, with Kevin De Bruyne being sidelined for most of the season, yet Manchester City hasn’t felt his absence as severely as expected. De Bruyne, widely recognized as the Premier League’s most creative player, is a unique talent, and City couldn’t find a direct replacement for him.
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Julian Alvarez’s Rise: Filling De Bruyne’s Void at Manchester City
However, Alvarez has stepped up admirably in De Bruyne’s absence, seizing the opportunity presented by injuries to De Bruyne, Mateo Kovacic, and Bernardo Silva in the midfield. Alvarez has started in all six of Manchester City’s Premier League matches this season, a rare occurrence in his short City career. Only two outfield players, Erling Haaland and Kyle Walker, have logged more minutes than him. He has also been a starter in City’s cup fixtures, contributing to both a 3-1 home victory over Crvena Zvezda and a 1-0 EFL Cup defeat to Newcastle United.
This season marks a notable shift for Alvarez. While he arrived last summer in the same transfer window as Haaland and was initially considered an alternative to the Norwegian as City’s number nine, he primarily played as a central striker last season. Alvarez and Haaland only started together eight times in the entire league campaign. However, this season, Alvarez has taken on a deeper role behind Haaland. Though nominally a number 10, he has the freedom to drift into the half-spaces, particularly on the left.
Comparing his touch map from this season to the previous one, it’s evident that Alvarez is getting on the ball more frequently and in deeper areas, showcasing his adaptability and increased involvement in the team’s midfield play.
Indeed, the statistics support the change in Álvarez’s role. In the current season, he is averaging more touches and passes per 90 minutes compared to the previous season (2022-23). However, his touches in the opposition box have decreased. This shift in his playing style demonstrates his increased involvement in the build-up play and midfield, indicating his adaptability and willingness to contribute to various facets of Manchester City’s game.
Julian’s Creative Brilliance and Scoring Prowess
Julian Alvarez’s increased chance-creation numbers are particularly noteworthy this season. In the absence of Manchester City’s top creator, he has truly stepped up his game.
With 27 chances created in all competitions so far, Alvarez not only leads Manchester City in this department but also ranks first among all Premier League players. Moreover, when looking at all teams in Europe’s top five leagues, only Freiburg’s Vincenzo Grifo (28) has created more chances than Alvarez in all competitions.
While Alvarez may not possess the same passing brilliance and range as De Bruyne, he is undoubtedly a technically gifted player capable of executing difficult passes with precision. This was evident in his slide-rule pass to Haaland on Matchday 1, showcasing his ability to contribute creatively to the team’s play.
Another example of Julian Alvarez’s creative ability is his first-time flick around the corner to his strike partner against Fulham. This move demonstrates his quick thinking and skill in setting up goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates, further highlighting his importance in Manchester City’s midfield in the absence of key players like De Bruyne.
It’s intriguing to note that Julian Alvarez has taken on the role of City’s primary set-piece taker, handling both free-kicks and corners. His proficiency in this area was evident when he struck a beautiful free-kick onto the post against West Ham.
Despite his increased focus on creating opportunities for his teammates, Alvarez maintains a solid shot volume in his game. While some of this can be attributed to playing in a highly dominant side, his 3.6 shots per 90 ranks second on the team, trailing only Haaland’s 5.3. Remarkably, this shot volume surpasses that of City’s other midfielders, even when comparing to the previous season (2022-23).
Alvarez’s ability to contribute both creatively and as a goal threat is a testament to his versatility. Although he now operates from a deeper position than last year, he still begins his plays close to Haaland, with whom he has formed a dynamic partnership. Their collaboration has resulted in nine chances created for each other, making them the third-highest duo for chances created in the Premier League this season, trailing only Aston Villa’s Moussa Diaby and Ollie Watkins as well as Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze and Odsonne Édouard, who have each created 10 chances for their partners.
Julian Alvarez’s partnership with Erling Haaland is notable not just for his vision in picking out Haaland but also for his ability to accelerate forward beyond Haaland when Haaland drops deep to receive the ball. This dynamic was evident in the following examples:
In these instances, Haaland drops deep to receive a pass and turns to face the opposition’s backline. Simultaneously, Alvarez exploits his acceleration to sprint beyond his marker and find open space to receive the pass from Haaland. This combination resulted in goals, as seen against Crvena Zvezda, and scoring opportunities, such as the chance against Fulham. Their understanding and ability to create scoring opportunities for each other are valuable assets for Manchester City.
The graphic illustrating all of Julian Alvarez’s off-the-ball runs, during which he’s been targeted with a pass, reveals an interesting pattern. Many of his runs originate from central positions but then see him angling his trajectory wide into the inside channels. What’s particularly noteworthy is that Álvarez’s runs frequently begin from deeper positions, making it challenging for defenders to track and mark him effectively.
The partnership between Haaland and Alvarez at Manchester City has been incredibly productive, to say the least. In their 20 starts together in all competitions, Haaland has contributed 21 goals and two assists, while Alvarez has added 12 goals and four assists. This impressive tally amounts to a remarkable 39 goal involvements between them in just 20 starts, showcasing their devastating effectiveness as a duo.
On the ball, Alvarez has displayed a dual threat this season, excelling in both creating chances for his teammates and being on the receiving end of scoring opportunities himself. He has been involved in 44 open-play shot-ending sequences for City, a figure surpassed only by Rodri. Alvarez’s ability to contribute to shooting, chance creation, and build-up play demonstrates his versatility and balanced approach, although it may not be as perfectly balanced as Phil Foden’s split between these aspects of the game.
Alvarez’s Defensive Workrate and Patient Journey
Julian Alvarez’s off-the-ball work highlights his versatility and multi-functional role within Manchester City’s squad. His defensive contributions are truly remarkable. He stands out as City’s most active presser, averaging an impressive 24.4 pressures per 90 minutes, surpassing all of his teammates in this aspect. What’s even more noteworthy is that he leads the team in pressures not only in the attacking third (11.7 per 90) but also in the middle third (9.8 per 90).
Alvarez’s commitment to pressing was evident last season as well when he was City’s most frequent presser, averaging 33.4 pressures per 90. In this regard, he offers a dimension that Kevin De Bruyne does not. De Bruyne’s 18.5 pressures per 90 last season placed him seventh among the team’s players, underscoring the unique defensive energy and intensity that Avarez brings to Manchester City’s midfield.
Julian Alvarez’s journey at Manchester City has required patience and perseverance. Initially signed in January 2022, Alvarez remained on loan at his home club, River Plate, to complete the season. While he had a few chances last season, his playing time was limited. Interestingly, he had a more significant impact with his national team, even winning a World Cup.
Despite the waiting game, Alvarez has handled his situation admirably, according to Pep Guardiola. The Manchester City manager praised his consistent behavior, whether he was playing or not, and whether he was a world champion with his national team or not. Guardiola noted that Alvarez displayed the perfect balance of disappointment when not playing while remaining always ready for the opportunity.
Now, that opportunity has arrived, and Alvarez is making the most of it, showcasing his talents and contributing significantly to Manchester City’s success.
