Erling Haaland’s struggles in entrance of purpose come from enjoying in “probably the most tough place on the planet”, says Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola.
Haaland has twice gained the Premier League Golden Boot and netted 19 occasions within the first 17 league matches of this marketing campaign to place himself in prime place to realize that for a 3rd time.
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He nonetheless leads the best way, however the Norway striker has misplaced type within the second half of the season, scoring solely 3 times in 12 league video games in 2026.
One other clean got here within the on Saturday, a expensive end result within the context of the title race.
Guardiola says Haaland scoring fewer targets comes from him being one of the vital marked males within the division.
“I did not see fatigue within the final 20 minutes, it was a difficulty with tempo and rhythm,” Guardiola mentioned at London Stadium.
“Have you learnt what number of central defenders have been round him in the present day? 200 million. Have you learnt what number of holding midfielders? It’s the most tough place on the planet.”
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The end result in opposition to West Ham places Metropolis 9 factors behind leaders Arsenal with eight matches to play.
Different theories connected to Haaland’s drop-off have included – they’ve performed with two strikers in 9 of the final 11 matches – in addition to fatigue with Guardiola’s staff competing in 4 competitions.
Haaland has performed 41 membership matches already this season and has missed just one league sport.
West Ham switched to a three-man central defence in opposition to Metropolis, whereas defensive midfielder Soungoutou Magassa was introduced on to stifle Haaland additional within the second half.
In his previous 12 league video games, Haaland has had 36 photographs, managing simply an 8% conversion charge.
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Determining his staff’s best formation means Guardiola has a fair larger puzzle to resolve on Tuesday as Metropolis intention to overturn a 3-0 deficit in opposition to Actual Madrid of their Champions League last-16 second leg.
Metropolis lined up in a 4-3-1-2 system in opposition to West Ham, with Haaland partnering Omar Marmoush in assault and Antoine Semenyo because the quantity 10.
It suited not one of the gamers, least of all Haaland who was crowded out, and Metropolis switched to a 4-3-3 for the second half.
Regardless of their tactical points, Guardiola says they may give every part in opposition to Madrid at Etihad Stadium – and says all Metropolis’s gamers are prepared too.
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“If they do not imagine, it’s a downside,” he mentioned of their European job. “In case you do not imagine if you find yourself within the Champions League, go residence. What do we’ve to lose?
“It was a troublesome end result [in the first leg]. We is not going to sit again and see what occurs, we’ll attempt to propulse, in respect for the followers. We’ve got a staff to attain two, three, 4.
“But when not, we nonetheless have the Premier League, the FA Cup, and subsequent season we all know what we should do, subsequent season we can be again.”