Is Erling Haaland Overworked on the Pitch?

Erling Haaland’s stellar season has recently hit a rough patch, raising questions about whether the forward has been overexerted on the field. The Manchester City and Norway striker started the season with incredible momentum, netting 39 goals in just 36 matches across both club and national duties. However, he has struggled to find the net lately, managing only one goal in his last eight appearances.

This downturn in form parallels Manchester City’s decline in the Premier League title race and their unexpected defeat against Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League. Pep Guardiola noted a lack of energy in the squad during last Saturday’s derby loss to Manchester United, prompting concerns about whether the 25-year-old has played too much football this term and if his manager should have given him a break.

Haaland Accepts Accountability

Haaland’s recent goal drought was epitomized during a disheartening match on Tuesday in the Arctic Circle. After falling behind 2-0, City required a spark to get back into the game, and just before halftime, Haaland was presented with a golden opportunity from eight yards out. Unfortunately, he sent his first-time shot wide, a chance he would have converted earlier in the season.

Currently, Haaland is experiencing his longest stretch without a goal from open play since joining Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City, having scored only once from the penalty spot during this period. The striker expressed his frustration to TNT Sports, stating, “I take full responsibility for not being able to score the goals I should do, so I apologize to everyone and every single Manchester City supporter that traveled today.”

He continued, “I try to do my best whenever I am on the pitch and I am on the pitch quite often because we play a ridiculous amount of games. That is my job, and I prepare for the next match.” So far this season, Haaland has participated in 31 matches, accumulating 2,568 minutes of play, ranking him 12th among Premier League players in terms of playing time.

Goals and Metrics Decline

Despite being the league’s top scorer with 20 goals in 22 games, Haaland has not found the net in open play during City’s last eight matches. His shot attempts per 90 minutes have decreased, and his expected goals (xG) have dropped significantly from 0.98 to 0.42. Furthermore, the number of prime scoring chances he has received has plummeted from 1.94 to 0.81 per 90 minutes.

Injuries to pivotal defenders such as Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol may have hindered the team’s ability to advance the ball effectively. Additionally, Rodri is still regaining form after a lengthy absence, and Phil Foden has not contributed a goal or assist since the West Ham match. While Haaland has accepted his role in the situation, it raises the question of whether Guardiola should also reflect on the decision to give the forward extensive playing time this season.

Guardiola’s Choices Under Scrutiny

Guardiola’s choice to play Haaland for 45 minutes in the FA Cup thrashing of League One’s Exeter City was particularly questionable, as a younger player could have easily filled that role in a match that posed little threat to the team. After a surprising 2-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League last November—an outcome that followed ten changes to the starting lineup—Guardiola may be wary of repeating that mistake.

With Omar Marmoush returning from the Africa Cup of Nations and the versatile Antoine Semenyo added to the squad, the expectation is that the scoring burden on Haaland will lessen. Although he struggled again on Tuesday, former Premier League striker Chris Sutton expressed confidence in Haaland’s ability to rebound. “He is a striker who has pretty much scored goals all the time,” Sutton stated on BBC Radio 5 Live. “He will come good again. Anyone who wants to write him off should do so at their peril.”

Tactical Considerations: Adapting to Haaland’s Style

It seems perplexing to question whether Manchester City is maximizing Haaland’s strengths, especially considering he leads the Premier League in goals. However, in the past eight matches across all competitions, he has been unable to score from open play. Guardiola has acknowledged the fixture congestion but wonders if other factors on the pitch contribute to this worrying trend.

Traditionally, Haaland excels when making runs behind defenders, benefiting from through balls that allow him to shoot from advantageous positions. Earlier in the season, City adopted a more direct style of play, capitalizing on the speed of players like Jeremy Doku and Tijjani Reijnders to create fast breaks, a strategy that greatly benefited Haaland.

While this approach suited Haaland, it also left the team vulnerable defensively. Quick attacks often lead to turnovers, leaving fewer players in position to defend against counterattacks. Guardiola has hinted at a desire to return to a more measured style, which historically brought success, stating, “I love [how much we run], last season we didn’t have that. But it’s not enough; we have to play better [so] we could run less,” after a 3-0 victory against West Ham in December.

What Lies Ahead for Haaland?

The absence of players capable of delivering precise passes limits City’s ability to create scoring opportunities for Haaland. With fewer deep passes to exploit, his chances of receiving the ball in dangerous areas diminish. Gvardiol’s statistics indicate he ranks high in both line-breaking passes and progressive carries, highlighting the impact of his absence on Haaland’s performance.

When City can apply pressure to the opposition, Haaland typically responds with decisive runs into the box. He often stops or slows down, drawing defenders in before a teammate can deliver a cut-back pass. This is evidenced by Doku’s ability to stretch defenses, creating space for Haaland to exploit, although the Belgian has not consistently replicated his early-season form.

Another common strategy for Haaland against tightly packed defenses is to position himself for crosses at the back post, a tactic he employs far more than attacking the near post. The near post often remains open for a teammate to capitalize on, as seen with Ilkay Gundogan in the past and with current players like Phil Foden or Reijnders.

Reijnders has recently taken on additional scoring responsibilities, while Matheus Nunes’ absence diminishes Haaland’s opportunities, given Nunes’ crossing abilities. Most teams will set up defensively against Haaland, aiming to limit his space, except for high-pressing teams like Bournemouth, against whom he scored twice earlier this season.

City must find ways to create space for Haaland, either through direct dribbling or strategic off-the-ball movements that stretch defenses. If they fail to adapt, Haaland will continue to rely on his teammates to find him in scoring positions more frequently than they have been able to do.