Erling Haaland‘s scintillating start to his Premier League career, which had once made him seem almost untouchable, has slowed to a concerning pace in recent months. Once heralded as the ultimate goal machine, Erling Haaland is currently enduring a prolonged slump, with his performances now raising questions about his role in Manchester City‘s title ambitions. A crucial statistic from his recent form sheds light on his struggles: Erling Haaland has missed more “big chances” than any other Premier League player over the past three months, including a missed penalty in City’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Everton on Boxing Day.
Erling Haaland: A Striker in Crisis – His Recent Woes
The Norwegian forward’s recent performances have been far from the explosive displays he was known for at the beginning of his Manchester City tenure. When Erling Haaland first arrived in the Premier League, he seemed unstoppable. His debut season was nothing short of a goal-scoring frenzy, breaking records with a frightening regularity. The secret to his early success? A peculiar, yet seemingly effective pre-match ritual: his father’s lasagna recipe. Haaland joked that the dish, made by his father before each game, was fueling his remarkable form. And for a while, it seemed to work.
However, in the months following his early success, that remarkable form has dissipated. His struggles were epitomized in the 1-1 draw with Everton on Boxing Day, where Erling Haaland’s missed penalty played a significant part in preventing City from securing all three points. That penalty was just the latest in a series of missed opportunities that have plagued the striker in recent weeks.
Missed Opportunities: The Numbers Behind Erling Haaland’s Struggles
One of the most striking statistics illustrating Erling Haaland’s recent lack of sharpness is the number of “big chances” he has missed. According to data from WhoScored, Haaland has now squandered 11 clear-cut chances in the past three months alone. This is more than any other player in the Premier League during that time frame. A “big chance” is typically a situation in which a player should be expected to score, and Haaland’s failure to convert these chances is a significant factor in his current dip in form.
It’s worth noting that Haaland has always been prone to missing big chances. In fact, he has topped the Premier League’s “big chances missed” charts in both of his previous seasons. However, his clinical finishing during his early days at City often made up for these occasional blunders. Unfortunately for Haaland and Manchester City, that clinical edge has been lacking in recent months, contributing to City’s frustrating run of form.
A Glimpse of Erling Haaland’s Mindset: Self-Criticism and Public Support
In recent weeks, Haaland has taken a more self-critical approach to his performances. After a particularly glaring miss in the Manchester derby in 2024, he admitted, “People say I’m good at scoring goals, but I missed the biggest chance in the world ever.” This kind of honesty from the striker shows a level of frustration and recognition of his own shortcomings. Haaland is undoubtedly a player who thrives on confidence and success, and right now, that confidence seems to be in short supply.
Despite Haaland’s struggles, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been quick to defend his star striker. After the defeat to Aston Villa, Guardiola acknowledged Haaland’s form but emphasized that it was a collective issue for the team, not just one player’s fault. “The performance against that team was really good offensively and defensively,” Guardiola remarked. “We shot a lot inside the 18-yard box, but unfortunately couldn’t get the result we wanted.” Guardiola’s statement highlights a deeper issue for City, where the team as a whole has struggled with clinical finishing in recent matches.
However, not everyone within the City camp seems as optimistic as Guardiola. Swiss defender Manuel Akanji seemed less convinced about the team’s chances in the Premier League title race, suggesting that City should not focus on the title at this point in the season. “The season is not finished but it’s not a target for us at the moment,” Akanji said in the aftermath of the Villa loss. His words suggest that the pressure is mounting, and the team’s current form, combined with Haaland’s lack of goals, may have already derailed City’s aspirations of defending their Premier League crown.
Erling Haaland’s Goal Drought: A Stark Contrast to His Early Career
In the early stages of his Manchester City career, Haaland was known for his consistency and ability to score in virtually every match. His arrival in England was nothing short of sensational, and his impact was immediate. Haaland’s goal-scoring feats became so frequent that fans and pundits alike were beginning to discuss his place among the all-time greats of the Premier League.
But as the season has progressed, those early bursts of form have become increasingly rare. In fact, Haaland has managed to score just three goals in his last 13 Premier League appearances. For a player who was once on pace to break numerous scoring records, this dry spell is concerning. The fact that 27 different players have outscored Haaland in the Premier League during this period including City’s own left-back, Josko Gvardiol further emphasizes how far Haaland’s form has fallen from its peak.
Interestingly, even Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, who has been struggling with his own inconsistency, has managed to match Haaland’s tally of three goals in the same period. This only adds to the scrutiny surrounding Haaland’s performances and raises questions about his ability to regain his former level of consistency.
Is Erling Haaland’s Slump a Reflection of City’s Broader Issues?
While Haaland’s individual struggles are undoubtedly a major talking point, it’s important to recognize that Manchester City as a whole has also experienced a dip in form. The team has won only four of their last 13 Premier League matches, a record that contrasts sharply with their usual dominance under Guardiola. The lack of clinical finishing has been a recurring theme, with City consistently failing to convert their dominance in matches into wins.
Haaland’s struggles are perhaps most noticeable when considering how heavily City relies on their talismanic striker. Guardiola’s tactics often center around providing Haaland with opportunities to score, but when he’s unable to finish those chances, City is left with a sense of frustration and missed potential. This has been evident in recent matches, where the team has created numerous chances but failed to capitalize on them.
The Pressure of Expectations: Can Erling Haaland Recover?
The pressure on Haaland is only growing. As one of the world’s most high-profile strikers, expectations are always going to be sky-high, particularly after the way he burst onto the scene in the Premier League. Haaland’s slump has now become a focal point for criticism, and fans are beginning to question whether the player can return to his best.
What is clear is that Haaland’s current struggles are not solely down to individual issues; they reflect a wider problem at Manchester City. With the team faltering in the league and Haaland’s goals drying up, there is a sense that the Premier League title race might already be slipping out of City’s grasp. Haaland will need to find his form again if City are to salvage their season. The question is, will the Norwegian striker be able to rediscover the magic that made him the most feared forward in Europe, or has his remarkable run already come to an end?
Conclusion: A Season of Uncertainty for Erling Haaland and City
Erling Haaland’s recent struggles have cast a shadow over what was once a dream partnership between the Norwegian striker and Manchester City. With his form waning and his goal-scoring prowess nowhere to be found, the team is left in a precarious position in the Premier League title race. Haaland’s missed opportunities, including his costly penalty miss against Everton, have become a symbol of City’s wider issues issues that have left Pep Guardiola’s side trailing behind in the league.
While Haaland is undoubtedly a player capable of turning his form around, his current slump will need to be addressed quickly if City is to have any chance of securing silverware this season. The coming months will be crucial for both Haaland and Manchester City as they look to salvage what has been an underwhelming campaign so far.
