Pep Guardiola has moved to defend Erling Haaland, insisting the Manchester City striker should not put undue pressure on himself to constantly find the net, despite a recent dip in his goal-scoring form.
Haaland's Recent Struggles in Front of Goal
The Norwegian forward's stoppage-time penalty against Liverpool on Sunday secured a crucial 2-1 victory for City, but it marked only his third goal in his last ten appearances, with just one of those coming from open play. Following the match, Haaland himself acknowledged the need to improve his output, refusing to attribute any struggles to fatigue.
However, Guardiola was quick to praise the 25-year-old's overall contribution this season, highlighting that Haaland has still managed an impressive tally of 28 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions for the club.
Guardiola's Perspective on Development and Fixture Fatigue
"We cannot forget he's not 29, 30 years old; he's young and it's part of the process," stated the City manager. "Every season he lives, he's a better player for the next one. How he knows his body better, how he knows what it means to play every day. We cannot forget the last games. Maybe he doesn't have the numbers that he wants, but we are in the position that we are thanks to him."
Guardiola emphasised Haaland's vital role in City's campaign, noting: "For three-quarters of the season, if he didn't score, I don't know who's going to score. We are in the position in the Champions League [into the last 16], and especially in the Premier League, without Erling it would not be possible."
The manager also pointed to the demanding fixture schedule as a key factor, suggesting it is the primary reason for any perceived tiredness. "And the reason why he is tired, a little bit down, it's down to one reason – the calendar. So no more than that," he added.
Composure Under Pressure and Praise for Khusanov
Guardiola was particularly impressed with Haaland's composure when converting the late penalty at Anfield, a high-pressure moment that he believes defines top players. "It's not easy – Anfield, 91, 92 minutes, and the situation that we have, taken there and taken with this composure, his body language, in his eyes there was fire there, and it's not easy," he remarked.
Meanwhile, defender Abdukodir Khusanov also earned praise from Guardiola after starting City's last ten games. The 21-year-old Uzbek was substituted in the 61st minute against Liverpool with a suspected concussion, but subsequent tests confirmed he did not suffer one, making him available for the upcoming match against Fulham.
Despite Khusanov's limited English, Guardiola insisted communication is not an issue. "He doesn't speak like William Shakespeare but he's getting better and better. He understands what we want and every time he is getting better. He is so intelligent," said the manager.
Guardiola added: "Normally you have the opinion that because he is so physical and strong and fast that he's not able to think, but it's completely the opposite – he always makes good decisions."
As Manchester City prepare for Fulham's visit to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, Guardiola's comments serve as a strong vote of confidence in both Haaland's enduring quality and Khusanov's growing importance to the squad.
