Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has dismissed claims that Erling Haaland is solely responsible for the team’s recent poor form. The reigning Premier League champions are enduring a challenging season, with their latest setback being a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, marking their ninth loss in 12 matches across all competitions.
Haaland, who once scored prolifically for City, has now gone without a goal in five of his last six matches. Following the Villa defeat, Haaland admitted his personal shortcomings, stating, “I haven’t been good enough.” Guardiola, however, defended the Norwegian striker, emphasizing the collective nature of City’s struggles.
Speaking ahead of the Boxing Day clash against Everton, Guardiola reiterated, “It’s about us, not just one player. When we scored a lot of goals, it was because the team worked as a whole. The same applies now. If we’re struggling, it’s because of collective issues, not one individual.”
The manager underlined Haaland’s importance, insisting the team needs to adapt better to maximize his impact. Guardiola also rejected simplistic blame narratives, pointing to numerous “big and small details” affecting their form. He called for a united effort to overcome the challenges and looked forward to the opportunity to improve during the upcoming match.
