Manchester City’s recent struggles, which have seen them secure just one win in their last eight Premier League matches, have raised concerns about the team’s form. Currently sitting seventh in the table, 12 points adrift of league leaders Liverpool, City’s woes have been compounded by a sharp decline in the performances of star striker Erling Haaland. After scoring an impressive 10 goals in the first five games of the season, Haaland has only found the back of the net twice in the last eight matches. However, manager Pep Guardiola is adamant that the issue is not solely down to Haaland’s dip in form but is a collective problem involving the entire team.
Ahead of City’s upcoming match against Everton on Thursday, Guardiola addressed the team’s struggles, reiterating that blaming one player for the lack of goals or success is an oversimplification of the issue. "It’s not just one player," Guardiola explained in a press conference. "When we were winning and Erling was scoring goals, it wasn’t just down to him. The team as a whole played a part in that success. Now, when things aren’t going well, it’s a reflection of the entire team, not just one individual."
Guardiola highlighted that Haaland, despite his recent slump, remains a crucial figure for City. The Norwegian forward’s ability to score goals has been vital in their past successes, and Guardiola is confident that the team can work together to better utilize Haaland’s talents moving forward. “Erling is so important for us, and we’ll continue to work to help him get back to his best,” Guardiola added. “It’s not just about him. We all need to perform better.”
While Guardiola couldn’t pinpoint an exact cause for the team’s current form, he remained optimistic that the situation can be turned around. City has struggled across various areas of the pitch, from defense to midfield, but Guardiola believes that these issues are not insurmountable. "It’s a combination of many small and large details that together are making us less effective," said Guardiola. “We’re working on improving them, and I’m confident that we’ll get back to the level we expect soon."
City's next opponent, Everton, may sit 15th in the standings, but their recent defensive form has been solid, with the Toffees keeping five clean sheets in their last six matches. Guardiola acknowledged the threat posed by Sean Dyche’s side, praising their defensive organization and ability to transition quickly into attack. "Sean Dyche always organizes his teams very well defensively. They have good patterns both defensively and offensively, and they’re dangerous on set-pieces and long balls," Guardiola noted.
As City prepares for the Boxing Day clash, Guardiola also discussed the team’s schedule during the holiday period. While players will have some time with their families on Christmas Day, the team’s commitment to training remains high. “We train today, we train tomorrow evening, and then we’ll play on Boxing Day,” Guardiola said. “It’s important to spend time with family, but we also have a job to do. Our duty is to be ready for the game, and we’ll be focused on that.”
