I’m not agreeing with Erling Haaland’ – Pep Guardiola makes ‘right balls’ claim to defend Man City striker despite terrible run extending in Aston Villa loss
Manchester City’s recent 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa has intensified scrutiny on both the team and star striker Erling Haaland. This loss marks City’s ninth in their past twelve matches, a stark contrast to their previous dominance in the Premier League.
Haaland, who began the season with a remarkable scoring streak of 10 goals in the first five league games, has found the net only three times in the subsequent 12 matches. Following the Villa defeat, he expressed self-criticism, stating, “I haven’t been doing things good enough, I haven’t been scoring my chances… I have to do better.”
Manager Pep Guardiola, however, disagreed with Haaland’s self-assessment. He emphasized the collective responsibility of the team, noting, “Without him, it would be even worse… He needs to be delivered the right balls in the right spots.”
The defeat to Aston Villa has left Manchester City sixth in the Premier League standings, nine points adrift of leaders Liverpool. This downturn has led to increased pressure on Guardiola, with discussions emerging about his future at the club.
Despite the challenges, Haaland expressed unwavering support for Guardiola, stating, “He won the Premier League six times in seven years… He will find the solutions.”
Guardiola acknowledged the team’s current struggles but remained optimistic about a turnaround. He highlighted the importance of delivering quality service to Haaland and the need for the entire squad to elevate their performance levels.
As Manchester City prepares for upcoming fixtures, the focus will be on addressing these issues to halt their current slump and reestablish their status as title contenders. The collaboration between Guardiola and Haaland will be pivotal in navigating this challenging period and steering the team back to winning ways.
