Arjun Menon
Haaland’s Struggles Coincide with City’s Dip in Form
Erling Haaland’s once-unstoppable form has hit a snag. The Manchester City and Norway striker, who has netted an impressive 39 goals in 36 games this season, has managed just one goal in his last eight appearances. This slump has mirrored City’s recent struggles, including a shocking Champions League defeat to Bodo/Glimt and a derby loss to Manchester United.
After the Bodo/Glimt match, Haaland was visibly frustrated. “I don’t have the answers,” he admitted to TNT Sports. “I take full responsibility for not being able to score the goals I should do… I apologise to every single Manchester City supporter that travelled today.”
“I don’t want to speak about how I feel. I do my best whenever I am on the pitch, and I am on the pitch quite often because we play a ridiculous amount of games.”
Has Guardiola Overplayed His Star Striker?
Haaland has logged 2,568 minutes across 31 games this season, ranking him second among forwards in Europe’s top five leagues—only behind Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta. With 16 league games remaining, plus potential finals in the Carabao Cup, FA Cup, and Champions League, and Norway’s March friendlies, Haaland could end up playing 69 matches before the summer.
His stats tell a worrying story. Since his last open-play goal against West Ham over a month ago, Haaland’s shots per 90 minutes have dropped, his touches in the box have declined, and his expected goals (xG) have plummeted. Even his big chances per 90 have halved.
Injuries to key players like Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and Rodri haven’t helped. Phil Foden, too, has gone without a goal or assist since the West Ham game. Guardiola’s reluctance to rest Haaland—even in a 10-1 FA Cup thrashing of Exeter City—has raised eyebrows, especially after the Bayer Leverkusen debacle when rotation backfired.
Can City Adjust to Get Haaland Firing Again?
Haaland thrives on direct, transitional play—through balls into space, quick counters, and crosses to the back post. But City’s recent shift toward a more controlled style has limited those opportunities. The absence of Jeremy Doku’s dribbling and Gvardiol’s progressive passing has further stifled Haaland’s effectiveness.
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton remains unfazed. “He is a striker who has pretty much scored goals all the time. He will come good again. Anyone who wants to write him off should do so at their peril.”
For now, Guardiola must find a balance—resting Haaland without losing momentum, while adapting City’s attack to suit his strengths. Otherwise, the Premier League’s top scorer may continue to struggle.
Read also: Chelsea and Man City Join Race for Barcelona Teenager Dro Fernandez