Pep Guardiola has refused to place sole blame on Erling Haaland for Manchester City’s alarming results and the unprecedented challenges they are facing during the current 2024-2025 season.
City, winners of the Premier League in the last four seasons, are enduring their worst form in years. Their 2-1 loss to Aston Villa on Saturday marked their ninth defeat in the last 12 matches across all competitions. Haaland, often the focal point of the team’s attack, has failed to score in five of the last six games.
Guardiola Shields Haaland from Criticism
Ahead of City’s match against Everton on Thursday at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola addressed the team’s struggles, emphasizing that Haaland is not solely responsible for the team’s decline. This came after the Norwegian striker, reflecting on his performance during the Villa loss, admitted to TNT Sports: “I look at myself first. I didn’t score from the opportunities I had. I have to do better; I wasn’t good enough.”
However, Guardiola came to Haaland’s defense. The striker, who has scored an impressive 108 goals since joining City in 2022, remains a vital asset to the team. “We would be worse without him,” Guardiola said. “He needs better service, better passes to reach the right positions.”
The Spanish coach elaborated: “It’s about the team, not one player. When we were scoring goals and Haaland was at his best, it was because the team supported him. Similarly, when we have issues in defense or midfield, everyone shares the blame. It’s never about just one individual.”
Finding Solutions for the Team
Guardiola described Haaland as a crucial part of the squad, adding, “He’s very important for us, and he will continue to be. We need to focus on improving our approach to utilize him better.”
He dismissed the notion that the team’s struggles are due to a lack of effort, poor coaching, or specific individuals. “It’s about many small and large details that have caused us to fall short of our usual standards,” he explained. “But we have a new opportunity on Boxing Day to turn things around.”
Manchester City currently sit in seventh place with 27 points, trailing league leaders Liverpool by 12 points. Liverpool, who have a game in hand, were held to a goalless draw by Everton in their most recent outing.
