Manchester City have fallen off a cliff this season and Erling Haaland has suggested that their desire has not been there as they battle to simply make the Champions League
Manchester City star Erling Haaland admits the former champions “haven’t had the hunger inside of us” following a massive drop off this season. The Norwegian concedes he hasn’t been up to scratch with Pep Guardiola‘s side still battling to make the Champions League.
City and co celebrated a fourth straight title this time last year – a feat that had never been achieved before in English football. This term though their form has been of stark contrast with Guardiola’s side losing nine times.
As a result they sit fourth and need positive results in their final two games to ensure they’re competing in next season’s Champions League. Haaland appeared to question the team’s motivation as they endure a monumental dip.
The forward has picked up the Golden Boot in his past two seasons in England, but is almost certain to miss out on a hat-trick. Injuries have hampered his season and his Premier League tally sits at 21 – with the ex-Borussia Dortmund man shouldering his share of responsibility.
He told ESPN: “You can find excuses in all of this – injuries, many injuries and at bad times – but in the end we haven’t been performing well enough. We haven’t had the hunger inside of us. I haven’t been good enough, I haven’t helped the team enough.
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“The club has set standards and the bar is so high which means this season is a catastrophic season – that says it all. Next season we need to find something inside our stomach again to attack the season.”
Haaland and City can still land silverware this season in the form of the FA Cup with a final to come against Crystal Palace, but their efforts have still been well below the required levels. Their Champions League journey ended before the last 16 even kicked off.
City’s prolific striker played for the first time in six weeks during the goalless draw at Southampton on Saturday. The visitors dominated with 26 shots to the home side’s two, but were ultimately denied with Chelsea and Aston Villa hot on their heels in the race for the top five.
Pep Guardiola will remain at the helm having extended his contract but will need to lead an overhaul at the Etihad. Kevin De Bruyne’s exit has been confirmed with the talismanic Belgian moving on to pastures new whilst several other senior figures could also leave.
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