Thierry Henry believes Pep Guardiola should be 'challenged' over his decision to let Cole Palmer and two other strikers leave Manchester City amid the club's current gloomy spell.
City's late collapse in Sunday's derby against rivals Man United was another milestone for Guardiola and his reigning champions as it has now been eight defeats in their last 12 games.
Guardiola's worst career period coincided with City struggling to break through opposition defenses as they have done so easily over the years. Questions have been raised about the team's lack of strikers capable of finding the back of the net.
Erling Haaland is tied with Mohamed Salah at the top of the Premier League goalscoring chart with thirteen goals, having starred in the early parts of the season with ten goals in the first five games, but has scored just once in his past five performances.
The Norwegian has been involved in exactly 50 percent of City's 28 league goals this season, but serves as the club's only recognized striker after Julian Alvarez left this summer.
Alvarez would typically replace Haaland when the two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner started to fade in games, but he opted to leave for Atletico Madrid in search of more regular starting opportunities.
Meanwhile, Palmer has become the crown jewel at Chelsea since City let go of their academy for £42.5million at the start of last season and has emerged as one of Europe's best talents with 36 goals and 21 assists in 63 appearances for the Blues. .
Arsenal legend Henry – who was previously coached by Guardiola at Barcelona – believes the City boss can turn things around but questioned why Alvarez, Palmer and Riyad Mahrez were allowed to leave the club.
“We all know, it is the first time and we can say it, that we can challenge his decisions by letting go of Cole Palmer, Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez,” he told Sky Sports.
'Ilkay Gündogan came back and it is not the same Gündogan who scored seventeen goals a season.
'You're missing those goals. Erling Haaland is scoring the same goals, a few fewer than in his first season, but he is doing what he usually does.
“I've seen him miss players every season, but where are the goals from Mahrez, Alvarez or Kevin De Bruyne, Gundogan – where are those goals?,” he added.
The glaring problem with City's attack is compounded by the fact that they are currently on course to endure their worst ever goalscoring season during Guardiola's reign.
They have scored just 28 goals in 16 Premier League games this season and forecasts currently expect City to finish with fewer than 70 goals.
Their worst season yet under the Spaniard came when they found the back of the net just 80 times in the 2016/2017 season, which was Guardiola's first at the club.
Jeremy Doku and Savinho were expected to improve City's attacking performances since moving to the club, but like Jack Grealish they failed to make a significant goal contribution this season.
Brazilian star Savinho in particular has had a terrible start to life in England, with the 20-year-old still not scoring in 21 games for City.
Guardiola is expected to order club chiefs to spend money in the January transfer market as he tries to find a way out of the current chaos surrounding City, which has left their title defense in tatters.
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