Pep Guardiola has directed the spotlight onto his Manchester City squad, calling on them to elevate their play and provide more service for striker Erling Haaland, whose recent goal drought has coincided with a precarious position in the Champions League.
The manager delivered this clear message on the eve of City’s decisive final group stage match against Galatasaray at the Etihad Stadium.
Haaland, who has remarkably scored just once, from the penalty spot, in his last nine appearances across all competitions, finds himself in an unusual dry spell after netting 38 goals in 28 matches earlier this season.
Guardiola, however, was unequivocal in placing the responsibility for reigniting his star forward on the collective, not the individual. “Create more chances then he will score,” Guardiola stated during his Tuesday press conference.
He offered a stark warning to any doubters, saying, “Never underestimate the strikers, the goal-scorers, because always they will make you silent. He will score for the rest of his life, that’s for sure”.
Guardiola’s recent team selection underscores his approach to managing the situation. He left Haaland out of the starting lineup for last Saturday’s Premier League victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, a decision he explained was intended to “clean his mind, his body”.
The manager had previously described his 25-year-old forward as “exhausted” following a demanding schedule.
The urgent call for improved service comes at a critical juncture in City’s European campaign. The team’s shock 3-1 defeat to Bodø/Glimt last week left them in 11th place in the 36-team league phase standings.
With only the top eight teams qualifying directly for the round of 16, Manchester City likely requires a victory against Galatasaray to avoid a tricky two-legged playoff next month. “I prefer to have more [points], but it is what we deserve,” Guardiola admitted.
Compounding the pressure is a significant injury and suspension crisis. Key midfielder Rodri is suspended for the match, while defenders Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and John Stones are injured.
New January signings are also ineligible for this stage of the competition. In a lighter moment, when asked if Haaland would be fresh for the match, Guardiola quipped, “I didn’t have dinner with him last night so I don’t know. We will see”.
The stage is now set for a high-stakes response. As Guardiola looks to his team to rediscover its creative spark, all eyes will be on Haaland to see if his teammates can provide the platform for him to deliver the goals that Manchester City desperately needs to secure a smoother path in their Champions League title defense.