Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, attributes Erling Haaland’s recent difficulties in scoring to the challenges of playing in “the most difficult position on the planet.”
Haaland, who has secured the Premier League Golden Boot twice, started this season strong, scoring 19 goals in his first 17 matches, positioning himself well for a third consecutive title. However, his performance has dipped in the latter half of the season, with only three goals in 12 league appearances in 2026.
A disappointing performance included a goal-less outing in the 1-1 draw with West Ham on Saturday, a result that has significant implications for the title race.
Guardiola noted that the decrease in goalscorer effectiveness is partly because Haaland is one of the most closely guarded players in the league. “I didn’t see fatigue in the last 20 minutes; it was more an issue of tempo and rhythm,” Guardiola stated at London Stadium. “How many central defenders do you think were around him today? A lot. It’s the most challenging position you can occupy.”
This draw leaves City nine points adrift of league leaders Arsenal with only eight matches remaining.
Various factors have been suggested for Haaland’s decline in form, including City’s tactical adjustments—with two strikers deployed in nine of their last 11 games—and fatigue due to competing in multiple tournaments.
This season, Haaland has participated in 41 matches for the club and has missed only one league match. Against City, West Ham adopted a three-man central defense, and they introduced defensive midfielder Soungoutou Magassa to further contain Haaland during the second half.
In his last 12 league matches, Haaland has taken 36 shots but managed a mere 8% conversion rate.
Faced with adjustments to find the team’s optimal formation, Guardiola now has a pressing challenge ahead of City’s Champions League last-16 second-leg match against Real Madrid, as they seek to overturn a 3-0 deficit.
In their recent game against West Ham, City began in a 4-3-1-2 formation, with Haaland partnered alongside Omar Marmoush in a dual-striker setup, and Antoine Semenyo positioned as the number 10. This configuration did not suit the players, particularly Haaland, who found himself heavily marked, prompting a switch to a 4-3-3 formation in the second half.
Despite the tactical challenges, Guardiola expressed confidence that his team will give their all against Madrid at the Etihad Stadium, believing that all players are prepared. “If they don’t believe, that’s an issue,” he said regarding their European ambitions. “If you’re not willing to believe in the Champions League, it’s time to go home. What do we have to lose? It was a tough defeat in the first leg, but we won’t just sit back. We will push forward in respect for our fans. We have the capacity to score multiple goals.”
“And if things don’t go our way, we still have the Premier League, the FA Cup, and we will know what needs to be done next season; we’ll be back.”