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Guardiola opined that Haaland’s lack of goals in recent weeks boils down to his side not being able to create as many chances as they have been known to do over the years.
Pep Guardiola, Erling Haaland. (X)
Manchester City take on Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday in the Premier League as the holders experience a downward spiral in form with manager Pep Guardiola enduring an unprecedented slump.
City have managed just one win in their previous eleven games across all competitions while having to endure eight defeats in the tumultuous period. The spell has also had an impact on star striker Erling Haaland, who has just one goal in his last five outings.
However, Guardiola opined that Haaland’s lack of goals boils down to his side not being able to create as many chances as they have been known to do over the years and ruled out the possibility of switching to a false nine system that the Spaniard had mastered over the course of his illustrious career.
“I prefer to play with Erling,” said Guardiola.
“I don’t think in the situation that I have that I don’t let Erling play — absolutely not. No, no, I didn’t think about that,” he reiterated.
“Always I play false nines for the quality specifically of the players I have in that moment. In some games playing man to man, I love to play against false nines but I have an Erling, I have to adapt,” he elaborated.
“I see him well, I see him fine. The reason why maybe he’s not so productive in this situation is for the way we are playing, that we don’t produce the amount of chances that we were able to do in the past,” he clarified.
“When he’s surrounded by two or three or four central defenders it’s not easy for him. We have to play better, to create the spaces for him.”
Guardiola has been plagued by long-term injuries to star players including the likes of Balon d’Or winner Rodri as City stand fifth in the Premier League table heading into their 17th game of the season against Unai Emery’s Villa.
And while City haven’t historically ventured big into the transfer market in the winter window, Guardiola did not rule out a possibility of the Abu Dhabi-owned side trying the waters for recruitment in the January window.
“We’ll see. I don’t know how many times in the last years we’ve gone into the winter market — maybe just Aymeric Laporte seven years ago,” the Spaniard added.
“We’re not a big fan of that but the circumstances of this season have been special. We have to see if something is possible and if not we will wait until the summer time,” the 53-year-old added.
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