In a striking display of accountability following a shocking 3-1 defeat to Norwegian debutants Bodø/Glimt in the UEFA Champions League, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland issued a heartfelt and unequivocal apology to the club’s supporters, labeling the performance “embarrassing”.
The unexpected loss, which came on the heels of a 2-0 Premier League defeat to rivals Manchester United, has intensified scrutiny on Pep Guardiola’s squad during a period of uncharacteristic instability.
Speaking to TNT Sports from the Aspmyra Stadion in Bodø, Haaland did not mince words, offering a direct apology to the fanbase. “I don’t have the answers. I take full responsibility of not being able to score the goals I should do,” the Norwegian forward stated.
“I just apologize to everyone; every single Man City supporter and every single supporter that traveled today, because in the end it’s embarrassing”.
He further credited the opposition, acknowledging, “Bodo they played some incredible football and in the end it’s deserved”.
Beyond his own role, Haaland specifically named senior teammates Rodri, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Tijjani Reijnders, stating they collectively must bear the responsibility for the team’s substandard displays. “I don’t want to blame anyone but we need to take more responsibility, because at the end it’s not good enough. We’re Man City, we can’t go around and not win games, it shouldn’t be like this”.
The match itself was a disjointed affair for the English champions. Bodø/Glimt raced into an early lead through a Kasper Høgh double before Jens Petter Hauge added a third after the hour mark.
A goal from Rayan Cherki offered a brief moment of hope for City, but any chance of a comeback was extinguished when midfielder Rodri received two yellow cards in quick succession, reducing his side to ten men.
Manager Pep Guardiola echoed the somber mood in his post-match comments, conceding that the team’s momentum has evaporated. “Today was an incredible opportunity for us, but everything is going wrong, going against us in many details. That’s a fact and we have to try to change it,” Guardiola said. He did, however, offer a mild defense of Rodri’s dismissal, suggesting the second booking was “a little bit soft”.
The defeat leaves Manchester City in a precarious position in the new league phase of the Champions League, currently sitting seventh and outside the automatic qualification spots for the round of 16.
With just one win in their last seven matches across all competitions, the pressure is mounting ahead of a decisive final group game against Galatasaray, where victory is now essential to secure a top-eight finish and avoid the playoff round. The team’s challenges are compounded by a significant injury crisis in defense, with center-backs Rúben Dias, John Stones, and Josko Gvardiol all sidelined.
Haaland’s public apology and call for leadership from the squad’s experienced core marks a pivotal moment in City’s season. It signals an internal recognition that standards have slipped, with the striker’s unusual goal drought—just one goal in his last eight games—mirroring the team’s broader struggles.
As Guardiola’s side prepares for a critical domestic match against Wolverhampton Wanderers followed by the Galatasaray showdown, the response to this nadir will likely define the trajectory of their campaign. The coming days will test whether Haaland’s words can catalyze the necessary change on the pitch.