Pep Guardiola says Manchester City need to make better use of Erling Haaland so the striker can regain his red-hot form in front of goal.
City are on a run of just one win in 12 games in all competitions, with the Premier League champions losing nine of those matches, with last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa adding to their woes.
The Norway international managed just one shot in that game, which came in the 90th minute and marked his only touch in the Villa box, as he failed to score in a third consecutive outing.
Haaland started the season with 14 goals in 13 games in all competitions, averaging a goal every 81 minutes, with a shot conversion rate of 23.3%.
Yet, since the start of City’s slump, Haaland has hit the back of the net just four times in 11 appearances, his minutes-per-goal ratio has dropped to 248 and his shot conversion rate has dropped to 9.8%.
After the defeat at Villa Park, the striker said he had not been good enough of late, but Guardiola insisted that the burden of their disappointing streak fell on all players.
“It’s about us, it’s not just about one game,” Guardiola said.
“When Erling was so cheerful, it was about us, the team. Erling is so important to us and will be so important to us. We have to treat him better.
“Because why this one and this one and this one. It’s about us, about everyone. Boys are running more than ever. Lots of little details and big details don’t make us as good as we were.”
City have struggled with injuries this term, with the likes of Rodri, Oscar Bob and Ruben Dias, while Ederson and Mathieu Nunes are both doubtful for their Boxing Day clash with Everton.
They were boosted by the return of John Stones, who was out with a leg injury for the trip to Villa, but the defender was substituted at half-time, and now looks set to miss out against his former club.
“We will see how many players we have. At the moment, I don’t know,” Guardiola said.
“However, I have not spoken to the doctors, but apparently, if he [Stones] Villa couldn’t continue in the second half at the park, because he wouldn’t be ready.”
