Help! Manchester City's streak and Haaland's shocking statistics

Posted : 22 December 2024

Manchester City’s struggle continues as they face their ninth loss in 12 matches across all competitions. On Saturday, they were defeated 2-1 by Aston Villa, leaving them in sixth place in the Premier League. With just 18 points, City is trailing leaders Liverpool by nine points, although Liverpool has played two fewer games. The decline in form is a stark contrast to the dominance City displayed under Pep Guardiola in recent years.

In fact, when considering just the last eight Premier League games, City’s performance is concerning. They share the bottom spot with Southampton, who also earned only 4 points from 24 available, with one win, one draw, and six losses. Should Southampton manage to gain a point against Fulham today, City will slip to the bottom position. Even Wolverhampton, who also faced recent struggles, have earned more points despite having fewer matches.

After the defeat to Villa, Guardiola maintained his calm demeanor during the press conference but couldn’t mask his frustration. He acknowledged that the team’s issues are largely related to the absence of several key players. "The solution is to bring back the injured players," he stated. "We only have one qualified stopper, and that’s difficult. We concede goals we wouldn't have in previous years, and we aren't scoring the goals we once did. There are many reasons for this." Despite the setbacks, Guardiola remains optimistic, expressing his trust in the players and their ability to bounce back.

Guardiola also emphasized that despite the tough situation, his belief in the squad remains strong. He reminded the media of their previous success, winning the English championship last season, despite losing to Villa in that match. Guardiola is determined to find a way to reverse the team’s fortunes, underlining his faith in the players’ pride and desire to succeed.

The team’s troubles have been exacerbated by the injuries to several key players, including goalkeeper Ederson, defenders Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias, and most significantly, Rodri. The Ballon d'Or winner tore his cruciate ligament early in the season, and his absence has left a significant gap in City’s midfield.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery was quick to point out City’s current lack of confidence, which has been evident in recent performances. "They don’t have the confidence we are used to," Emery said. "In the second half, we took control and exploited their weaknesses." City’s inability to find a solution to their ongoing problems has allowed other teams to capitalize on their vulnerabilities.

One of the key figures representing City’s struggles is Erling Haaland, the Norwegian striker who has been the team’s main source of goals. Haaland, who joined City in 2022, has netted 76 goals in 83 Premier League appearances, including 13 goals this season. However, his form has dipped significantly in recent weeks, with only one goal since the team's poor run began in November. In the loss to Villa, Haaland touched the ball just 18 times, the fewest of any player who started the match, further highlighting his lack of involvement in City’s attacking play. Over the last eight games, he has only scored twice, adding to the mounting concerns surrounding the team’s offensive struggles.

Help! Manchester City's streak and Haaland's shocking statistics

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