“We are not good enough” – Pep Guardiola responds to goalscoring criticism and lack of Erling Haaland support | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has issued a response to questions around the lack of support for Erling Haaland in the goalscoring department at Manchester City.

The Norway international is by far and away Manchester City’s leading goalscorer so far this season, but has hit a run of form that has seen him stutter in front of goal and as such see the squad as a whole struggle for goals.

City find themselves on a run of five losses in a row across competitions, and three defeats in a row within the Premier League, despite generating a number of clear goalscoring chances in various contests that have simply not been taken.

The latest example of that trend came at the weekend, with Manchester City recording 26 shots at Vicario’s Tottenham goal at the Etihad Stadium but falling to a staggering 0-4 defeat to Ange Postecoglou’s squad.

Speaking after the 0-4 home defeat to Tottenham on Saturday evening, Pep Guardiola responded to questions around whether Erling Haaland has enough support in the goalscoring department, having failed to strike against Ange Postecoglou’s defence.

“Yeah, he’s the main target, but Phil (Foden) had two or three clear chances, and Josko (Gvardiol) had one or two clear chances,” Guardiola pointed out. “So I don’t know, I have to review the game but the fact that the way we played in different shapes in the first and second-half, the way with the ball we were playing was good.”

He continued, “I don’t think we didn’t create not enough chances, we created a lot of chances. But it’s true that in our way we are there, and after they link there and (Heung-min) Son keeps the ball, or (Dejan) Kulusevski can attack inside, and after they run.

“If you don’t win this first action, it’s more difficult and they were brilliant, they were good. So we have to accept it.”

On whether more of his Manchester City players need to step up and take more responsibility around goalscoring, Pep Guardiola explained, “Yeah, maybe but the chances are there. The same for example like in Brighton. But it is what it is.

“Of course we want a lot of players to score, but it’s happened now. I think we had the chances, and clear, clear ones at 0-0, 0-1, 0-2 – we were there. And I know at the Etihad, when we are there, we can score goals, our momentum is there.”

He closed, “But now in that moment we are not solid enough, that is the truth, in both sides. Normally when we’re solid we don’t concede goals, no. In both sides, we are not good enough.”

Erling Haaland will desperately be wanting to pick up his goalscoring form for Manchester City immediately, especially having notched yet another hat-trick whilst on international duty for Norway against Kazakhstan earlier this month.

Other names within Manchester City’s squad will also be wanting to improve their own form, particularly Phil Foden – who is into yet another campaign with his boyhood club but fresh off the back of success with the Premier League Player of the Season and PFA Player of the Year.