Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez hopes to offer Pep Guardiola’s side “different solutions” this season, having marked his competitive debut with a goal.
The striker netted in the second half of City’s Community Shield equalizer against Liverpool at the King Power Stadium, canceling out Trent Alexander-Arnold’s opener, although Jurgen Klopp’s side won 3-1 thanks to Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez’s penalty. late header.
Alvarez’s goal saw him grab the attention in an otherwise disappointing attacking display from City.
The 22-year-old had just two touches inside the box in 32 minutes off the bench but was a live wire down the right after replacing Riyad Mahrez and his goal made him the third Argentine to score. Community Shield, after former City stars Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez.
Signed for a reported £14m from River Plate in January, then loaned back to the South American giants until the end of last season, Alvarez is likely to be a supporting member of City’s squad next year due to competition from Mahrez, Jack Grealish. , Phil Foden and Erling Haaland, although the latter endured the home bow he forgot at Leicester.
Premier League rule changes now mean managers can use five substitutes from the bench, which should lead to more opportunities for Alvarez, and he has vowed to use his versatility to provide alternative options for Guardiola.
“Obviously I’m very happy to score my first goal with City, but that stays aside because it wasn’t the result we wanted to start the season with, winning a trophy,” he told City TV.
“I always try to give my best in training, I have shown that I can play in different positions in my clubs and in the national team.
“With this versatility, I can offer the team alternatives, I can offer different solutions and I want to give my best to help the team.”
City’s attention is now on the start of their Premier League title defense, which begins at West Ham on August 7, and Alvarez is confident it will be another successful campaign despite Saturday’s defeat to their rivals.
“It’s difficult, of course we didn’t want to start this way. We don’t like to lose. We have to keep working,” he added.
“It will be a good season to fight for all the trophies and we have to keep working in this way.
“Liverpool have shown how good they are in recent years. They are a great team with great players. So are City.”
“It was a good test to start the season, we played well and played at a good level, but we have to keep working to get results.