Erling Haaland Delivers Brutally Honest Verdict on His Recent Poor Form After Aston Villa Defeat

Manchester City’s star striker Erling Haaland has delivered a brutally honest assessment of his recent performances following the team’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the Premier League. It was yet another tough night for Pep Guardiola’s side, whose poor run of form continues, having now lost nine of their last 12 matches across all competitions.

Against Aston Villa, Manchester City once again fell short. Jhon Duran opened the scoring in the first half, taking advantage of a brilliant through ball from Youri Tielemans. Former City youngster Morgan Rogers provided the assist for Duran, who calmly finished past Stefan Ortega.

Rogers himself got on the scoresheet after the break, doubling Villa’s lead. While Phil Foden scored a late goal for City in stoppage time, it was little more than a consolation. The defeat leaves Guardiola’s team in an unfamiliar position, with questions being raised about their ability to turn things around.

At the center of City’s struggles is the form of Erling Haaland. The Norwegian, who was the Premier League’s top scorer last season, has struggled to replicate his dominance. Against Villa, he had just one shot and one touch in the opposition box—both coming in the 90th minute.

Haaland was largely invisible throughout the match, recording just 18 touches and completing only eight passes. His recent form has been a cause for concern, with just three goals in his last 10 league appearances.

In a candid post-match interview, Haaland didn’t hold back in taking responsibility for his performances.

“We have to keep working,” Haaland told TNT Sports. “The first thing I look at is myself. I haven’t been good enough, I haven’t been scoring my chances, and I need to improve.

“There’s a lot of responsibility on me, and I’ve not done well enough. Confidence is so important—it affects everyone. We know how hard it is, but we have to stay positive and work even harder.”

Despite the team’s recent struggles, Haaland expressed his full confidence in Pep Guardiola. With the January transfer window approaching, fans have been hoping for reinforcements to help turn the season around.

“He’s won the Premier League six times in seven years. We can’t forget that,” Haaland said. “He always finds the solutions, and we believe in him. Now it’s up to us to work harder than ever to support him and turn things around.”

The January window could offer City a chance to strengthen, particularly in midfield, as they cope with the long-term absence of Rodri due to injury. However, reports suggest the club is unlikely to pursue high-profile targets like Bruno Guimaraes or Martin Zubimendi.

Instead, Guardiola may rely on his current squad to rediscover their form. Fans will hope that Haaland’s honest self-assessment marks the beginning of a turnaround for both the striker and the team.

City’s defeat to Villa has left them facing mounting pressure. For Haaland, his candid admission shows a determination to improve. Now, it’s a matter of turning words into action as the reigning champions look to recover from their slump.

City’s next opportunity to bounce back comes on Boxing Day, and all eyes will be on Haaland to see if he can rediscover the form that made him one of the most feared strikers in the league.