Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has surprisingly pointed the finger at the rest of his squad for Erling Haaland's recent goal drought. The Norwegian striker, who had been in sensational form earlier in the season, has found the net just once in his last nine appearances, a penalty. This from a player who had previously notched an impressive 38 goals in 28 games across all competitions, leading him to describe it as the "best form of his career".
Guardiola's comments came ahead of Manchester City's crucial Champions League match against Galatasaray on Wednesday. City are currently in a precarious position in the Champions League standings and need a victory to boost their chances of finishing in the top eight and directly qualifying for the round of 16, thereby avoiding a playoff. Their qualification hopes were dented by a shock loss to Bodø/Glimt, which saw them fall to 11th place.
When questioned about Haaland's recent struggles in front of goal, Guardiola stated the issue was with "the team". He emphasized that the team needs to create more opportunities for Haaland to score. "Create more chances then he will score," Guardiola said. He also expressed his unwavering faith in the striker, saying, "Never underestimate the strikers, the goal-scorers, because always they will make you silent". Guardiola confidently asserted, "He will score for the rest of his life, that's for sure".
Guardiola's defense of Haaland comes amidst a challenging period for Manchester City, who are dealing with a significant injury and suspension crisis. Midfielder Rodri is suspended, while key defenders Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and John Stones are all sidelined with injuries. January signings Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi are also ineligible to play at this stage of the competition. However, there's a potential boost with the possible return of Nico Gonzalez, who has been out for the last five games with an injury but could feature if he passes a fitness test.
The upcoming match against Galatasaray also has added significance due to the presence of former City players Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane in the Turkish team's squad. Gundogan, who captained Guardiola's treble-winning side in 2022-23, and Sane, a former fan favorite, will be looking to cause an upset against their old club.
Despite the challenges, Guardiola maintains a positive outlook, placing emphasis on the collective responsibility of the team to support Haaland and rediscover their winning form. His comments highlight the importance of chance creation and overall team performance in maximizing the potential of a striker of Haaland's caliber.
