Redirecting the idle knight to h6, where it will be helpful in exploiting in the complex of weak squares on g4, f5 and e4.
A tactical oversight. White should have accepted long-term inferiority after 7.fxg5 fxg5 8.hxg5 Nxg5.
Preparing Nd2-b3 in order to seize the protected square on c5. This is the best way to do it, since the temporary attack on the c6-pawn limits Black's replies.
By recapturing this way White keeps the c5-square under control and facilitates the attack on the c6-pawn.