Erling Haaland has been considered the invincible symbol of Man City's attack in the past 2 seasons. The Norwegian striker's coolness at the hands of pressure and ability to score endlessly has become a nightmare for European defenses. However, now, the 24-year-old star's worried and unconfident expressions partly reflect the difficulties the Citizens are facing.
In the recent 1-1 draw with Everton, Haaland had a golden opportunity to help his team take the lead when they were in front of the penalty spot in the 53rd minute. However, his shot was not sharp enough and Jordan Pickford easily blocked it.
This is not the first time the striker born in 2000 has missed a chance from the 11m mark, however, at a time when Man City is struggling with a series of declining matches, every mistake becomes a deep cut into the already fragile confidence. Not long after, Haaland put the ball into the opponent's net but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Always considered an unstoppable goalscorer, Erling Haaland now seems to be burdened with responsibility and the instability of the whole team, causing his form to decline. He has only scored 1 goal in the last 7 matches in the Premier League, an alarming statistic compared to the previous performance of 81 minutes/goal. Now, the rate has dropped to 270 minutes/ game, reflecting the difficulties the Norwegian striker is facing.
Signs of a loss of confidence were more evident in Haaland's other moves. Some headers that he could easily convert into goals in the past have now stopped at the effort level. It is undeniable that Man City are relying heavily on Haaland for goals. As the 24-year-old striker loses form, the problems in the Etihad attack become even more obvious.
Phil Foden has shown some positive signs as he gradually regains form, but he cannot compensate for the ineffectiveness of his other teammates. Meanwhile, despite his speed and skill, Jeremy Doku often cannot make sharp enough final touches. In addition, rookie Savinho has not shown enough integration when he is still shy and indecisive, causing dangerous opportunities to slip away.
The draw against Everton extended Man City's winless streak in the Premier League to 4. Unexpectedly, since the team has dominated English football with 6 championships in the last 7 seasons, Man City now has only earned 5/27 maximum points from the last 9 matches (the worst record in the tournament).
Part of the reason for the Citizens' decline comes from the team's constant injuries. In the match against Everton, Pep Guardiola was missing up to 8 key players, forcing him to play options that did not really ensure his fitness like Nathan Ake. On the bench, the Spaniard had to use up to 5 players from the academy and James McAtee, who was also not on the field regularly.
However, Man City's problem is not just personnel. Confidence, lack of cohesion and widespread decline in performance are pushing the Manchester team into a difficult situation.
"We have to regain our spirit quickly. Life is not always easy and the same goes for sports. The team still has time and opportunity to turn things around" - Pep Guardiola shared.
