Pep Guardiola
Erling Haaland’s recent performance has sparked discussions about his scoring pattern, especially after a phenomenal start to the season. With nine goals in four games, the expectation for him to maintain this momentum was high, but naturally, there has been a slight slowdown. Pep Guardiola has analyzed the challenges facing Haaland, pointing out various factors that have contributed to this shift in his scoring frequency.
Pep Guardiola said “Against Inter Milan, Haaland had six players around him. He was up against the best (or second-best) defensive partnership in the Premier League against Arsenal. Even when he scored in Bratislava, Haaland was an onlooker for most of the contest – only getting his chance when the defense switched off in the second half.” Guardiola acknowledges Haaland’s ability to seize those rare opportunities with, “But that one chance is all he needs, and he was unlucky against Fulham with a handful of first half efforts. When the Cottagers became wise to his tendency to drop a few yards, Haaland’s impact was reduced.”
Jeremy Doku shared his insights into Haaland’s season and his contributions beyond just scoring.
Jeremy Doku said ” “Sometimes been a bit unlucky this season but having a forward who can score that amount of goals is always helpful. He’s having a great season. Today he didn’t score, I’m surprised, honestly I know the next games he will score a lot of goals for us and help us a lot.”
He emphasized Haaland’s importance to the team’s strategy,
Jeremy Doku said “Even his last goal [vs Bratislava] was a long ball that he created with his head and played into Rico [Lewis]. This helps us, especially when we’re playing very deep. It’s important, even when he doesn’t score goals. Imagine today when he doesn’t score, he’s still very helpful. Maybe people don’t see that but for us it’s very important.”
Currently, Haaland has amassed two goals in five games, a notable contrast from his previous record of weekly hat-tricks. This temporary ‘blip’ is not a concern, especially considering the level of opposition faced and his unseen contributions to the team. As Haaland prepares to captain Norway on international duty, there is optimism for his return to form with an upcoming set of favourable fixtures against teams like Wolves, Sparta Prague, Southampton, Bournemouth, and Sporting. It is only a matter of time before Haaland’s current streak becomes a distant memory.
