Guardiola: Manchester City Must Use Haaland Better to Regain Form

Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that Manchester City needs to make better use of Erling Haaland to help the striker rediscover his prolific goal-scoring form. City’s recent struggles have coincided with a dip in Haaland’s performance, underlining the importance of optimizing the team’s approach to get the best out of their star forward.

Manchester City’s Current Struggles

A Difficult Run of Form

Manchester City is enduring one of their worst stretches under Guardiola, with just one win in their last 12 matches across all competitions. The reigning Premier League champions have lost nine of those games, including a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa last weekend.

Injury Woes

City’s struggles have been exacerbated by injuries to key players, including Rodri, Ruben Dias, and John Stones. Stones, who recently returned from a foot injury, was substituted at halftime against Villa and is now doubtful for the Boxing Day clash with Everton.

Erling Haaland’s Declining Form

A Tale of Two Seasons

Haaland started the season in red-hot form, scoring 14 goals in his first 13 appearances, with a goal every 81 minutes and a shot conversion rate of 23.3%. However, since City’s slump began:

• Haaland has scored just 4 goals in 11 games.
• His minutes-per-goal ratio has dropped to 248 minutes per goal.
• His shot conversion rate has fallen to 9.8%.

Struggles Against Villa

In the loss to Aston Villa, Haaland managed just one shot, which came in the 90th minute, and registered only one touch inside the opposition box. This marked his third consecutive game without a goal.

Guardiola’s Analysis: It’s a Team Issue

Guardiola defended Haaland, emphasizing that the team’s overall performance impacts the striker’s output.
“It’s about us, it’s not just about one player,” Guardiola said.
He acknowledged that when Haaland was scoring prolifically earlier in the season, it was a reflection of the entire team functioning effectively.

Key Quotes from Guardiola

• “Erling is so important for us and will be so important for us. We need to use him better.”
• “The guys are running more than ever. Many little details and big details make us not as good as we were.”

Guardiola’s comments suggest that tactical adjustments and better cohesion are needed to maximize Haaland’s contributions.

Challenges Ahead for Manchester City

Injury Concerns

City’s injury list remains a significant obstacle.

• John Stones: Likely to miss the Everton game after being substituted at halftime against Villa.
• Rodri, Ruben Dias, and Oscar Bobb: Still sidelined.
• Ederson and Matheus Nunes: Doubts for the Boxing Day fixture.

Upcoming Fixtures

City faces Everton on Boxing Day, a critical match as they attempt to end their slump and regain momentum in the Premier League title race.

Conclusion

Pep Guardiola’s acknowledgment of the need to “use Haaland better” highlights Manchester City’s focus on addressing their tactical issues. While injuries and a dip in form have contributed to their struggles, Guardiola’s emphasis on teamwork and adjustment could be the key to reigniting both Haaland’s goal-scoring prowess and City’s overall performance. With critical fixtures on the horizon, City must act quickly to turn their season around.

FAQs

1. What has caused Erling Haaland’s dip in form?
Haaland’s decline in form is linked to Manchester City’s overall struggles, including injuries and tactical inefficiencies.

2. How many goals has Haaland scored this season?
Haaland has scored 18 goals in all competitions this season, but only four in his last 11 appearances.

3. What injuries are affecting Manchester City?
Key players like Rodri, Ruben Dias, and Oscar Bobb are sidelined, while John Stones and Ederson are also doubtful for the next match.

4. What did Guardiola say about Haaland’s form?
Guardiola emphasized that Haaland’s form depends on the team’s performance, stating, “We need to use him better.”

5. When is Manchester City’s next match?
City faces Everton on Boxing Day in a crucial Premier League fixture.