Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that Manchester City’s recent struggles require a more effective strategy to get the best out of their star striker, Erling Haaland. After an explosive start to the season, where Haaland netted 14 goals in his first 13 matches, the Norwegian forward has seen his goal-scoring rate drop significantly in recent weeks. With only four goals in his last 11 appearances, Haaland’s minutes-per-goal ratio has risen sharply to 248, and his shot conversion rate has plummeted from 23.3% to just 9.8%.
City's overall form has mirrored Haaland's downturn. They’ve secured only one win in their last 12 matches across all competitions, which has put them under increasing pressure as they look to maintain their title challenge. This slump was highlighted by a disappointing 2-1 loss to Aston Villa, where Haaland’s involvement in the game was minimal. He had just one shot at goal in the 90th minute, which marked his only touch inside the Villa penalty box throughout the match.
Haaland himself admitted after the loss at Villa Park that he had not been performing at his usual high level, acknowledging that his recent form was well below expectations. However, Guardiola has emphasized that the team’s struggles should not be pinned on Haaland alone. “It’s about us, it’s not just about one player,” Guardiola said. “When Erling was so prolific, it was about us, the team. Erling is so important for us and will be so important for us. We need to use him better.” The Manchester City manager pointed out that Haaland’s early-season success was the result of a collective team effort, where every player was contributing to his ability to score.
Guardiola also highlighted that City’s recent downturn in form has been influenced by multiple factors beyond just Haaland’s individual performance. “Many little details and big details make us not as good as we were,” Guardiola explained. Injuries to several key players have played a major role in City’s struggles this season. Rodri, one of the team's key midfielders, has missed significant time, as has defender Ruben Dias. In addition, both Ederson and Matheus Nunes are doubtful for the upcoming Boxing Day match against Everton, further depleting an already thin squad.
The return of John Stones, who was sidelined with a foot injury, was a welcome boost for City during their trip to Villa Park. However, Stones was substituted at halftime during that match, and Guardiola indicated that it was unclear whether he would be available for the next game. “We will see how many players we have available. Right now, I do not know,” Guardiola said. Although he had yet to consult with the medical team about Stones’ condition, Guardiola's statement suggested that Stones might not be ready for the crucial clash against his former club, Everton.
Despite the challenges, Guardiola remains confident that with the right adjustments, City can turn their fortunes around. He made it clear that Haaland remains a key part of the team’s plans moving forward, but for that to happen, they need to reestablish the dynamics that made them so dangerous earlier in the season. For Haaland, this means better service from his teammates and more cohesive play in attack. For City, it involves getting their injured players back to full fitness and finding their rhythm again.
As they head into a busy holiday schedule, with a fixture against Everton looming, Guardiola's focus will be on maximizing his squad’s potential while getting Haaland back to his best. With the Premier League title race heating up, Manchester City will need a fully firing Haaland and a more consistent team performance if they are to stay in the hunt for silverware.
