Guardiola disagrees with Haaland’s verdict on one Man City player’s performance vs Aston Villa clash

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has dismissed Erling Haaland’s claim that his lack of goals is contributing to the team’s struggles.

Following City’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, Haaland admitted he hasn’t been “good enough,” but Guardiola insists the team’s current issues go beyond the Norwegian striker’s form.

City’s defeat at Villa Park marked their ninth loss in 12 games across all competitions, a sharp contrast to the dominance they’ve shown in recent seasons.

While Haaland started the season in blistering form with 10 goals in five matches, his scoring rate has slowed significantly, with just three goals in the last 12 Premier League games.

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RECALL:

This dip in form has coincided with injuries to key players and a collective loss of momentum. Phil Foden, who was a standout last season, finally scored his first Premier League goal of the campaign in stoppage time against Villa.

However, it was too little, too late as City’s performance continued to lack the intensity and precision they’re known for.

Guardiola has also been grappling with a thin squad due to injuries to defenders Ruben Dias and John Stones, further complicating City’s title defense.

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QUOTES:

Haaland’s Self-Reflection

Speaking to TNT Sports after the Villa defeat, Haaland said:

“I haven’t been doing things good enough. I haven’t been scoring my chances, and it’s a lot on me. We have to do better as a team, but I need to step up.”

Guardiola’s Response

When informed of Haaland’s comments, Guardiola defended his star forward:

“I don’t agree with him. Without him, it would be even worse. But I like that he’s taking responsibility—it’s the only way to improve. He needs the right service, and we’ll work on that. For now, we recover and prepare for the next one.”

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CITATIONS:

City’s poor form has left them trailing nine points behind Liverpool at the top of the Premier League. With Liverpool and other top teams showing consistency, Guardiola’s men face an uphill battle to get back into the title race.

KEEP IN MIND:

City’s next match is a Boxing Day clash against Everton at the Etihad Stadium. While it looks winnable on paper, nothing can be taken for granted with City’s current struggles.

Guardiola remains optimistic that his team can turn things around, but they need to do so quickly if they’re to salvage their season.

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