Guardiola’s Inadequacy in Advising Haaland on Scoring
Erling Haaland had a forgettable day in Manchester City’s recent draw against Chelsea. The Premier League’s top scorer had nine shots without finding the back of the net, which is his highest number of shots in a single game without scoring in any of his 79 appearances for Manchester City. Despite some good chances, including a cross from Kevin de Bruyne that Haaland failed to convert, the Norwegian striker’s goal drought continued.
City’s long unbeaten run at Etihad Stadium, which dated back to November 2022, was on the verge of ending until Rodri’s 83rd-minute strike salvaged a point for the home side. However, City’s failure to secure a win has cost them ground in the title race, with Liverpool and Arsenal now ahead of them.
Pep Guardiola, City’s manager, attributed the draw to a poor first-half performance rather than Haaland’s inability to score. He expressed confidence that Haaland would find his scoring touch in the next game. Guardiola, who scored only 11 goals in his 11-year playing career, humorously admitted that he wasn’t the right person to give advice to a striker. He emphasized that City created the chances, and it was up to Haaland to convert them.
Haaland’s performance against Chelsea was characterized by missed headers and inaccurate shots. Out of his nine attempts, only two troubled Chelsea goalkeeper Dorde Petrovic. Even his feet betrayed him when he sliced a volley wide from a Phil Foden cross. Despite these missed opportunities, Guardiola stood by his star striker and refrained from placing blame on him for the dropped points.
Guardiola believed that City deserved to win the match based on their overall performance. He acknowledged that the first half was tight, with both teams having their chances. However, he commended his side’s reaction after falling behind and praised their second-half display.
Rodri, the goal scorer for City, expressed disappointment in the team’s defensive performance and felt that it was responsible for the draw. He emphasized the need for individual players to take responsibility if City aims to win the league. Rodri also lamented some refereeing decisions that went against his side and felt that there were too many VAR checks without any going in City’s favor.
Despite dropping to third in the table, four points behind leaders Liverpool, City still has a chance to close the gap and overtake second-placed Arsenal if they can secure a win against Brentford. Rodri emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong mentality and looking ahead to the next game.
As the season progresses, City will need Haaland to rediscover his scoring form if they hope to challenge for the title. Guardiola’s faith in his striker remains unwavering, and he believes that Haaland will bounce back in the next game. Only time will tell if Haaland can overcome this scoring drought and lead his team to victory.