Former West Ham striker Carlton Cole recently made headlines with his remarks suggesting that Manchester City, in addition to Erling Haaland, have another player who is nearly impossible to stop.
While Haaland’s goal-scoring feats have made him the most talked-about player in the Premier League, Cole pointed out that the depth and talent in City’s squad go far beyond just their Norwegian striker.
According to Cole, Manchester City’s dominance is also driven by a versatile, dynamic player who doesn’t always get the same spotlight as Haaland but is equally vital to the team’s success.
### **Erling Haaland: The Unstoppable Goal Machine**
Before diving into the player Cole referred to, it’s worth understanding why Erling Haaland has been the subject of so much attention. After his move from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City, Haaland immediately took the Premier League by storm.
His combination of raw athleticism, clinical finishing, and footballing intelligence set him apart from other strikers in world football. He quickly established himself as a player who could single-handedly change the outcome of a match with his goalscoring ability.
Haaland’s impact on Manchester City has been enormous, as he quickly became the focal point of their attack, breaking records and helping the team secure major victories.
However, while his goal-scoring exploits are hard to ignore, City’s success cannot be solely attributed to Haaland. The team’s well-rounded, multi-faceted style of play requires contributions from several key players, which leads to Cole’s insightful observation.
### **Cole’s Remark: Another Player That You Can’t Stop**
Carlton Cole’s comment about Manchester City having “another player you just can’t stop” suggests that the squad’s strength goes beyond just Haaland’s goals.
He implied that while Haaland is a player defenders fear because of his raw ability to score, there is someone else in the squad who wreaks havoc in a different, more subtle way.
Though Cole didn’t explicitly name the player, many fans and pundits have speculated that he was likely referring to either Kevin De Bruyne or Phil Foden, two of the most influential players in City’s lineup who, like Haaland, have an unstoppable quality about them but do so in different ways.
Both players exemplify the skill and depth of City’s squad and embody the all-around playmaking and creativity that makes Pep Guardiola’s team so dangerous.
### **Kevin De Bruyne: The Playmaking Genius**
Kevin De Bruyne has long been regarded as one of the best midfielders in world football, and he’s been instrumental in City’s success over the years.
De Bruyne’s passing range, vision, and ability to control games from midfield make him one of the most unplayable players in the league.
Even when Haaland is not firing on all cylinders, De Bruyne often steps up with decisive moments — whether through key assists, long-range goals, or simply dictating the tempo of the game.
What makes De Bruyne such an unstoppable player is his intelligence on the field. He has an innate ability to read the game and find spaces where other players might not see opportunities.
His crosses, set-pieces, and through balls are often so precise that defenders can’t anticipate or block them, which is why he’s regularly among the top assist providers in the Premier League.
For Carlton Cole, a former striker himself, it’s easy to see why De Bruyne’s ability to deliver pinpoint passes to attackers like Haaland makes him someone defenders simply cannot stop.
De Bruyne’s versatility is also crucial — while Haaland’s main contribution is scoring goals, De Bruyne can influence matches in a variety of ways. His positioning, decision-making, and leadership on the field add another layer to City’s already formidable attack.
Even if Haaland is marked out of a game, De Bruyne’s creativity means that City can still break down defenses in other ways.
### **Phil Foden: The Rising Star**
Another potential candidate for the “unstoppable” label that Cole alluded to is Phil Foden. The English youngster has been one of Manchester City’s brightest stars, and his versatility and technical ability have made him a key player under Guardiola.
While Foden plays in a different position than Haaland, his ability to drift between lines, carry the ball, and score crucial goals makes him a dangerous player in his own right.
Foden’s close control, dribbling ability, and decision-making are attributes that make him a nightmare for defenders. He can operate on the wing, as a central attacking midfielder, or even as a false nine, giving Guardiola numerous tactical options.
What makes Foden so difficult to stop is that he combines creativity with a goal-scoring instinct, something that is rare for players of his age. He often pops up in the right place at the right time to either assist a teammate or finish a chance himself.
Foden has already been compared to some of the best attacking players in the world, and his ability to influence games in big moments, whether through his skillful dribbling or precise finishing, aligns with Cole’s view of another “unstoppable” force in City’s team.
In several matches, Foden has been the one to unlock tightly packed defenses when Haaland has been well-marked or unable to make an impact.
### **Pep Guardiola’s System: A Well-Oiled Machine**
Carlton Cole’s statement highlights a crucial element of Manchester City’s overall success — their strength is not just about individual brilliance but about how well those individuals operate within Pep Guardiola’s system.
While Haaland has brought a new dimension to City’s attack with his goal-scoring prowess, players like De Bruyne and Foden represent the intricate, team-oriented style of football that Guardiola has perfected over his career.
Guardiola’s City is built on fluidity, where players can interchange positions, and everyone contributes to both the attacking and defensive phases of the game.
This is why City remains so difficult to play against — even if an opposing team manages to neutralize Haaland, they still have to contend with the likes of De Bruyne, Foden, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez (before his departure), and others who can all create and score goals. It is this collective strength that makes City “unstoppable,” as Cole pointed out.
### **City’s Depth: More Than Just Haaland**
Cole’s assessment also underscores the depth in City’s squad. While Haaland is undoubtedly one of the best strikers in the world, City’s dominance is not dependent on just one player.
The team is built to succeed on multiple fronts, whether it’s through De Bruyne’s playmaking, Foden’s creativity, or the contributions of players like Jack Grealish and Ilkay Gündoğan (before his move to Barcelona). Guardiola has ensured that City has a well-rounded squad capable of winning games in a variety of ways.
This depth is what makes City such a difficult opponent in every competition they enter. They can rotate players without a significant drop in quality, and this allows them to compete on multiple fronts — from the Premier League to the Champions League.
Even if Haaland were to have an off day, City’s other players are more than capable of stepping up and delivering results.
### **Conclusion: More Than a One-Man Team**
Carlton Cole’s remarks about Manchester City having “another player you just can’t stop” serve as a reminder that while Erling Haaland may grab most of the headlines for his goalscoring exploits, the team’s success is built on a foundation of collective brilliance.
Players like Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden are just as integral to City’s dominance, and their ability to control games, create chances, and score crucial goals makes them unstoppable in their own right.
City’s strength lies not just in individual talents but in their cohesion as a team. Haaland may be the tip of the spear, but it’s the entire machine behind him — including players like De Bruyne and Foden — that makes City one of the most formidable teams in world football.
Cole’s insight highlights the multifaceted nature of City’s dominance and why they continue to be a force that few teams can stop.
