Erling Haaland: Man City’s goal machine returns from malfunction with robot celebration
Apart from last season’s setback where they failed to lift a major trophy, City have been a ruthless winning machine, winning six Premier League titles in the last eight seasons and the Champions League title in 2023.
In Haaland we have someone who destroys defenses with power, pace and clinical finishing.
The 1-0 defeat at Villa Park was City’s first defeat in their last 10 games, and although they responded with wins over Swansea and Bournemouth, City did not forget the blow.
“I didn’t score in the last game,” Haaland told Sky Sports when asked if he felt unstoppable. “I’m trying to help the team win, that’s my goal.
“Even by scoring goals, helping out or winning duels, it doesn’t matter as long as we win matches. I want to help the team become a better football team, that’s my job.”
Haaland’s numbers this term are on a different level. The only other player to score 13 goals in the first 10 Premier League matches was Les Ferdinand for Newcastle in the 1995-96 season, while Haaland scored 15 goals in 2022.
The player with the highest xG (9.20) without taking a penalty in the league accounts for 65% of City’s goals in the top-flight leagues and the Champions League, scoring 17 of 26 goals in both competitions.
“That’s what we have to do, to give him chances and pass the ball,” Guardiola added. “He knows that, but first of all we are so lucky to have such an incredible person because he is so sweet and kind.
“And he will improve. The numbers as a player from now on are truly phenomenal.”
Much has been said about City being over-reliant on Haaland and that other players need to “step up” and score more goals.
“Of course you want other people to join in and eventually they will,” journalist Julien Laurens told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“But I don’t know why it’s even a debate. When you have Haaland and the best finisher in the world, it would be foolish to even give anyone else a chance. You want the ball to fall to Haaland in the box 100% of the time.”
