Manchester City
Pep Guardiola worried as Haaland miss chances, blame it on dangerous team play
Pep Guardiola worried as Haaland miss chances, blame it on dangerous team play
Erling Haaland has missed some big chances in Manchester City’s last two games, but Pep Guardiola was not entertaining the idea that the striker was at fault.
Pep Guardiola has leapt to the defence of striker Erling Haaland, telling anyone who doubts his finishing that they will soon eat their words.
Haaland has seven goals and two assists in seven appearances for Manchester City this season, continuing his incredible goalscoring form since his arrival. But in the last two outings against West Ham and Red Star Belgrade the striker has missed nine big chances – including two from point-blank range at the London Stadium and one header that smacked the bar in the Champions League.
While Haaland scored at West Ham and set up Julian Alvarez 80 seconds into the second half against Red Star, it has not gone unnoticed that he could conceivably have had 10 goals over the two games. But Guardiola warned that anyone criticising Haaland is playing a dangerous game.
He has had incredible chances and he could have scored 14-15 goals [this season] and it would be the same debate,” Guardiola said. “But what is important is what he always said, ‘I have the chance, I have the chance, I have the chance.’ The problem is when I do not have chances or I do not get balls or I am in the wrong position
My advice is don’t criticise Erling too much. Criticise the full back, the central defender or the manager, but never, never the striker who scored all those goals because he will (score) and then you will be in a position where you have to apologise to him.”
Guardiola confirmed Haaland’s fitness has been managed in training since the start of pre-season after playing all the way until June 10 in the Champions League final with only a short break to recover before pre-season. “Every week he is better and everything is there. He is an incredible threat.
He has had a lot of chances and that means we are playing good. Always I have the sense that the team is doing quite good by the number of chances Erling has. When he is not involved in chances, then something wrong has happened with our process and dynamic.
“We created a lot of chances and the ball is there and that means we are doing a lot of good things. It has to continue. Always he is there. He has scored a lot of goals in the past and the present and it will happen in the future.”
With City peppering the goals of West Ham and Red Star with 56 shots over the last two games, of which 31 were on target, Guardiola was unconcerned with any notion of wastefulness from his players insisting the chances created mean his side will continue to score goals going forward.It is football. You ask the reason why and I will say it is football,” he added. “Maybe one day we will create less chances, but he will have three shots on target and three goals. I would prefer that.
“I said the same in half-time against West Ham, the score was disappointing but the way you are playing is not. Be more aggressive in front of goal, show the mentality to score, that I want to win the game for myself. We have the quality. Phil has the quality to score, Erling of course, don’t become crazy.
“We just need to be stable and positive. The important thing is to create chances and be in there. We had 29-30 shots against West Ham and 30 against Red Star and we had a lot on target. That is what you have to do, and if we do that we will win a lot of games.”
-
Liverpool6 months ago
BREAKING: Anfield has officially confirmed it. After countless talks, Jurgen Klopp has now agreed a new deal with Liverpool FC. Finally, Jurgen Klopp agreed to a two-year deal with the team. This afternoon, this news made the rounds in Anfield, and it’s official.
-
Arsenal fc7 months ago
BREAKING: Former Arsenal player died in a car crash at aged 35. RIP😭
-
Arsenal fc1 week ago
SAD NEWS😭: Bukayo Saka recieved a heartbreaking News about his Mom today. Please wish him well😭😭
-
Liverpool6 months ago
Jubilations: Big news on Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp decision to take U- TURN for continuity has been announced this morning- Fabrizio Romano reveal other term and conditions of new agreement. Full story link in comment👇
-
Liverpool6 months ago
Blame Var for disallowing Liverpool equalizing goal against Manchester United yestaday not me – Referee John Brooks
-
Tottenham fc7 months ago
BREAKING: Tottenham fans left in shock after hearing heartbreaking Heung-min Son news this morning😥
-
Liverpool5 months ago
BREAKING NEWS. Key Liverpool star has tabled transfer request over attacks and blames from team mates for lost to Atalanta and Crystal Palace.
-
Liverpool6 months ago
Shocking Reveal“Everyone is gone on International Duty, and that’s why I feel this is the right time to come out to the media to tell the world why Jurgen Klopp don’t want me in his Liverpool squad”- Liverpool Star player speaks out about why he lost his starting spot to Conor Bradley